Washington D.C — U.S. Congressman Keith Self of Texas’ 3rd Congressional District has introduced legislation seeking to terminate the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery, a U.S. immigration program that provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
The bill, identified as H.R. 10896, was introduced on October 22, 2026, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. It has not been passed into law.
Self, a Republican, announced the proposal as part of efforts to end the program, which makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually.
In announcing the bill, Self argued that the lottery has weaknesses in fraud prevention and identity verification. He also criticized federal judges for intervening in the Trump administration’s efforts to suspend the program.
“We cannot allow activist judges to dictate our immigration policy,” Self said in a statement published by his congressional office.
Potential implications for African applicants
The proposal could have significant implications for prospective immigrants from Africa, where many countries have historically been eligible to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery.
For many applicants, the program represents an opportunity to pursue permanent residency in the United States through a process that does not require the traditional family-based or employment-based immigration pathways.
Liberians and other eligible African nationals who hope to use the lottery to pursue opportunities in the United States could be affected if Congress eventually approves legislation terminating the program.
However, the bill’s introduction does not itself abolish the lottery or automatically disqualify prospective applicants.
H.R. 10896 has only been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It would need to advance through the legislative process and become law before the proposed termination could take effect.
Separately, the U.S. Department of State announced on August 31, 2026, that it had paused the issuance of all diversity immigrant visas while reviewing its screening and vetting procedures.
The department said applicants could continue submitting applications and attending interviews, but diversity visas would not be issued during the pause. That administrative measure is separate from Self’s proposed legislation.
The future of the Diversity Visa Lottery therefore remains subject to developments in Congress and separate government actions affecting visa issuance.
For Liberians and other prospective applicants, the proposed legislation highlights the importance of monitoring official U.S. government announcements before making immigration plans or financial commitments.
U.S. Congressman Introduces Bill to End Green Card Lottery, Raising Concerns for African Applicants
