Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville introduced the Americans First Immigration Act, a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would eliminate the Diversity Visa Lottery and replace it with a merit‑based points system.

The bill proposes to allocate 55,000 visas previously granted through the lottery to a points‑based system that evaluates education, English proficiency, job offers and military service.

Family‑based immigration would be narrowed, allowing sponsorship only for spouses and minor children, while parents of U.S. citizens would lose their immediate‑relative status.

Employment‑based categories would also shift to a points model, initially capped at 192,000 visas worldwide, with eligibility criteria including age 18‑51, English ability and a valid U.S. job offer.

Additional points would be awarded for higher salaries and advanced degrees in STEM or medical fields, and employers would need to demonstrate recruitment of U.S. workers before hiring foreign talent, facing fines up to $50,000 for non‑compliance.

Political backdrop and related immigration actions

The proposal emerges during President Donald Trump's second term, a period marked by heightened scrutiny of the H‑1B visa program and the launch of Project Firewall, which targets alleged visa fraud.

Recent enforcement actions have affected companies such as Cognizant and Cloudera, which faced suspensions related to H‑1B processing and PERM filings.

Legislative timeline and next steps

Congress has adjourned for an early recess ahead of the November elections, leaving the bill’s schedule uncertain and its prospects dependent on future congressional sessions.