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Strikes subsection (c) of section 203 (the diversity visa allocation) and makes conforming redesignations and cross-reference changes to the remaining subsections of section 203.
Amends section 101(a)(15)(V) by replacing a cross-reference to 'section 203(d)' with 'section 203(c)'.
Removes the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery from U.S. immigration law and updates other immigration statute wording so those cross-references no longer point to the eliminated program. All statutory changes take effect on October 1, 2025. The change deletes the statutory provision that creates the annual DV/"green card lottery," and makes technical and conforming edits throughout the Immigration and Nationality Act to reflect that deletion. Implementation will require administrative updates by agencies that handle visa processing and immigration records.
Strikes subsection (c) of section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which eliminates the diversity visa program as codified in that subsection.
In section 101(a)(15)(V) of the INA, strikes the phrase "section 203(d)" and inserts "section 203(c)" to update the cross-reference.
In section 201(a) of the INA: in paragraph (1) adds the word "and" at the end; in paragraph (2) replaces the trailing text with a period; and strikes paragraph (3). Also strikes subsection (e) of section 201.
Makes multiple edits in section 203 of the INA: redesignates subsections (d)–(h) as (c)–(g); updates internal cross-references (for example, changing references to subsection (c) to reflect redesignation); strikes a paragraph (paragraph (2) in a redesignated subsection) and redesignates another paragraph; and replaces certain phrase references so they refer only to subsections (a) and (b) where applicable.
In section 204 of the INA: strikes subparagraph (I) of subsection (a)(1); in subsection (e) replaces the phrase "subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 203" with "subsection (a) or (b) of section 203"; and in subsection (l)(2) updates subparagraph (B) to replace "section 203 (a) or (d)" with "subsection (a) or (c) of section 203" and updates subparagraph (C) to replace "section 203(d)" with "section 203(c)".
Who is affected and how:
Prospective Diversity Visa applicants: People planning to apply for the DV lottery (applicants from countries that historically relied on the program) lose that pathway to lawful permanent residence. Those individuals will need to pursue other immigration routes (family, employment, humanitarian, or other legal pathways).
Immigration legal services and advocates: Attorneys, accredited representatives, and nonprofit immigrant‑service organizations that provided DV lottery guidance or application assistance will no longer handle DV cases and may see demand shift to other services (family‑based petitions, humanitarian relief, employment visas).
Department of State consular operations & USCIS: Both agencies must update regulations, application forms, databases, visa allotment planning, public guidance, training materials, and IT systems to remove references to the DV program and to reflect the new statutory structure. Consular staffing patterns tied to seasonal DV processing may be affected.
Courts, adjudicators, and administrative processes: Statutory citations and cross‑references in adjudications and administrative guidance will change, requiring updates to legal briefs, agency memoranda, training, and case management systems.
Communities and sending countries: Communities and families that historically benefited from DV admissions (diverse national or diaspora populations) will be directly affected by reduced legal avenues for admission; potential indirect effects include changes in migration patterns and demand on other visa categories.
Agencies’ budgets and operations: The bill itself does not appropriate funds. Agencies must absorb the administrative burden of updating forms, systems, and communications within existing budgets unless Congress provides separate funding.
Net effect: The legislation removes a specific immigrant admission pathway and triggers administrative and legal updates; it does not itself create new admission categories or fund agency implementation.
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Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced February 12, 2025 by Mike Collins · Last progress February 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House