H.R. 1178 – SAFE for America Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC

The SAFE for America Act would repeal the diversity immigrant (green card lottery) program by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act. It removes the statutory provisions that allocate and process diversity visas, effectively ending the program. The change would affect foreign nationals who currently rely on the lottery to obtain U.S. permanent residence.

Key Provisions

Repeals the sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act that establish and allocate diversity immigrant visas, eliminating the lottery program.
Strikes the procedural rules and related subsections governing how diversity visas are granted.
Sets the repeal to take effect on October 1, 2017.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

March 16, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 16, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 16, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

March 16, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 16, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1178

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 16, 2017

Mr. Posey (for himself, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Gosar, and Mr. Babin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as—

(1)

the Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2017; or

(2)

the SAFE for America Act.

2.

Elimination of diversity immigrant program

(a)

Worldwide level of diversity immigrants

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by inserting and at the end of paragraph (1);

(B)

by striking ; and at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking paragraph (3); and

(2)

by striking subsection (e).

(b)

Allocation of diversity immigrant visas

Section 203 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (c);

(2)

in subsection (d), by striking (a), (b), or (c), and inserting (a) or (b),;

(3)

in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);

(4)

in subsection (f), by striking (a), (b), or (c) and inserting (a) or (b); and

(5)

in subsection (g), by striking (a), (b), and (c) and inserting (a) and (b).

(c)

Procedure for granting immigrant status

Section 204 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (a)(1)(I); and

(2)

in subsection (e), by striking (a), (b), or (c) and inserting (a) or (b).

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2017.