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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 2705

Congress Proposes Bill to Limit Family-Based Immigration and Cap Visas at 88,000 Per Year

Nuclear Family Priority Act

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill would change who can get a green card through their family. It focuses on 'nuclear families,' meaning it would only allow spouses and minor children to get these specific visas, removing parents, adult children, and siblings from the priority list.

    From policy text

    “by striking ``children, spouses, and parents'' and inserting ``children and spouses''”
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  • It sets a strict limit of 88,000 family-sponsored visas per year. This is a significant drop from current levels, which usually allow for hundreds of thousands of family members to move to the U.S. annually.

    From policy text

    “The worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is equal to-- ``(A) 88,000; minus ``(B) the number computed under paragraph (2).''”
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  • Parents of U.S. citizens would no longer be eligible for permanent green cards. Instead, they could apply for a temporary 5-year visa. These parents would not be allowed to work, could not use government benefits, and their children would have to pay for their health insurance.

    From policy text

    “A nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(W) is not authorized to be employed in the United States and is not eligible, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any Federal, State, or local public benefit. In the case of such a nonimmigrant, the United States citizen son or daughter shall be responsible for the support of the nonimmigrant, regardless of the resources of the nonimmigrant.”
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  • This would mostly affect U.S. citizens and permanent residents who want to bring their extended family—like brothers, sisters, or grown children—to live in the United States permanently.

    From policy text

    “Qualified immigrants who are the spouses or children of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence shall be allotted visas in a number not to exceed the worldwide level specified in section 201(c).''”
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  • If passed, the law would start in about two years. However, any new applications for the canceled categories filed after April 8, 2025, would not be processed.

    From policy text

    “The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the second fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, except that the following shall be considered invalid: (1) Any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) seeking classification of an alien under a family-sponsored immigrant category eliminated by the amendments made by this Act that is filed after the date of the introduction of this Act in the House of Representatives.”
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Immigration

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Apr 8, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced in House

Related Bills

1 bill
S. 1328Related bill

Nuclear Family Priority Act

Apr 8 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Nuclear Family Priority Act

Bill NumberHR 2705
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(28)
R: 28

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.