GOP Rep. Launches Effort To End Chain Migration, Repeal Parts Of Hart-Celler Act

A hardline House conservative is taking aim at the entire legal immigration system, rolling out a proposal that would mark the most sweeping overhaul in decades.

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is leading a bill to pivot the U.S. away from its long-standing family-based immigration model, moving instead to a system centered on what lawmakers deem the country’s “national interest.”

“All immigration to the United States shall serve the economic, cultural, and security interests of the United States as determined by Congress,” a draft version of the legislative text obtained by Fox News Digital said.

The plan takes direct aim at so-called chain migration by sharply limiting family-based pathways while elevating applicants based on merit and broader national priorities.

It would also scrap the diversity visa lottery, which currently distributes roughly 55,000 visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

Under the proposal, migrants would face tougher screening standards, including an expanded definition of “good moral character.” Applicants accused of gang ties or with arrest records for offenses like domestic violence or driving under the influence could be denied entry, even if they were never convicted.

Other red flags include misuse of public benefits, immigration violations such as overstaying a visa, and failing to meet tax obligations.

The bill also mandates stricter vetting procedures, requiring “enhanced background checks, including social media review and in-person interviews.”

While Republicans have long focused on cracking down on illegal immigration, Ogles’ push signals a growing appetite on the right to tighten legal pathways as well.

At its core, the legislation would roll back major elements of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the landmark law that reshaped U.S. immigration policy.

Often referred to as the Hart-Celler Act, the 1965 overhaul scrapped the old quota system that heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe. In its place, it opened the door to increased migration from Asia, Latin America, India, and Africa, while prioritizing family reunification, refugees, and certain skilled workers.

Ogles has made no secret of his opposition to that framework.

“The Hart-Celler Act scrapped the highly effective national-origins quota system and replaced it with an immigration regime built to favor third-world migration.”

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