Andrew Ogles

House Conservative Unveils Bill to End Chain Migration, Scrap Diversity Visa in Sweeping Immigration Overhaul

Position: Rep. Ogles proposes legislation to fundamentally restructure U.S. legal immigration by eliminating family-based chain migration, scrapping the diversity visa lottery, and prioritizing immigrants based on economic, cultural, and security interests as determined by Congress. The bill would impose stricter moral character requirements and enhanced vetting procedures.

By Elizabeth Elkind | Fox News FIRST ON FOX: A member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus is proposing legislation that would usher in the most significant legal immigration overhaul the U.S. has seen in decades. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is leading a new bill that would shift the American immigration system from a family-based focus, largely ending chain migration and prioritizing immigrants who serve the "national interest" of the U.S. "All immigration to the United States shall serve the economic, cultural, and security interests of the United States as determined by Congress," a draft version of the legislative text obtained by Fox News Digital said. It would also eliminate the diversity visa lottery, an annual quota allowing for 55,000 immigrant visas for people from countries with otherwise low migration rates to the U.S. People seeking to immigrate to the U.S. would have to qualify under an expanded set of "good moral character requirements" as well. Prospective immigrants accused of gang affiliation and who have prior arrest records for domestic violence or driving under the influence — even without convictions — could risk being ineligible. Other circumstances that could hinder eligibility under that standard include misuse of public benefits, any immigration violation like visa overstays and tax delinquency. Mandatory vetting to confirm "good moral character" would include "enhanced background checks, including social media review and in-person interviews." Republicans have long taken a hard line on illegal immigration, but a growing contingent of conservatives has expressed public skepticism about the legal immigration process as well. Ogles' bill would reverse key portions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, colloquially known as the "Hart-Celler Act" after its two main backers in Congress. The landmark bill reversed longstanding immigration quotas that overwhelmingly favored people from Northern and Western Europe, leading to more migration pathways for people from Asia, Latin America, Africa, as well as places like Eastern Europe. It established a system that favored family reunification, refugees, and people with specific skills deemed beneficial to the U.S. economy. Ogles himself previously called for repealing Hart-Celler, posting on X in December 2025, "The Hart-Celler Act scrapped the highly effective national-origins quota system and replaced it with an immigration regime built to favor third-world migration." Read On Fox News ###

Fox News: MAGA hardliner pushes ban on immigration from Islamic countries, US adversaries in wake of Texas shooting

Position: Rep. Ogles proposes legislation to ban entry to the United States from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, as well as individuals who have lived in those countries within the prior five years, citing concerns about identity verification and national security.

Rep. Andy Ogles, R Tenn., plans to introduce a bill that would halt entry from a set of Muslim countries, an effort Ogles framed as a continuation of travel restrictions President Donald Trump implemented in 2017. “Mass Islamic immigration, legal or illegal, has transformed America and brought destructive consequences,” Ogles said. “America’s moral exemplar is a meek carpenter who rose from the dead, not a warmonger with 12 wives and countless slaves. My bill will preserve this truth.” Ogles’ bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent admission of aliens from a series of countries with predominantly Muslim populations and a handful of other U.S. adversaries as Republicans continue to express concerns on Islamic ideologies and possible ties to recent acts of violence. The bill, dubbed the “Halt Immigration from Countries with Inadequate Verification Capabilities Act,” targets Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The bill describes those countries as regions where the government or prevailing conditions do not allow for reliable verification of the identities, backgrounds, or intentions of travelers seeking entry to the United States. The ban would also apply to individuals who have lived in the listed countries within the five years prior to attempting entry into the U.S. The legislation includes an exception for U.S. citizens. Ogles’ proposal comes after a deadly shooting in Austin, Texas that left at least three people dead and more than a dozen injured. Investigators have not definitively determined the motive behind the attack, but police said the suspect was wearing a hoodie marked “property of Allah.” Authorities also reportedly found an Iranian flag and photos of Islamic leaders at the suspect’s residence. The suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, was killed after a confrontation with law enforcement officers. The shooting occurred one day after the United States struck Iran alongside Israel, targeting the country’s military leadership amid efforts to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Read on Fox News Digital ###

Rep. Ogles Introduces Excise Tax Legislation on American Athletes Playing for Foreign Nations

Position: Rep. Ogles proposes a 100% excise tax on income earned by U.S. citizens competing in the Olympics for China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, characterizing such competition as working with foreign adversaries.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Andy Ogles introduced the “OLYMPICS Act,” legislation that would tax any money made by American citizens who play in the Olympics for China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea at a rate of 100%. The legislation would apply to prize money, sponsorship income, and any other compensation earned while representing those countries in Olympic competition. “Any American who works with a foreign adversary has not only betrayed our country, but must be stripped of all benefits from doing so. That is why I am ensuring that the IRS takes every dollar earned by athletes like Eileen Gu,” said Congressman Ogles. “Our people, our sovereignty, and our athletic dominance will not be mocked. Under the OLYMPICS Act, the IRS will impose a straightforward excise tax on any athlete who competes in an international event for a foreign country of concern. Being American is a privilege, and anyone who openly mocks that privilege on the world stage must be punished,” Congressman Ogles said. Read The Exclusive Here Read the Bill Here # # #

ICYMI: Ogles Requests Congressional Probe Of NFL NBC Over Vulgar Halftime Show

Position: Congressman Ogles calls for a congressional inquiry into the NFL and NBC for broadcasting content he characterizes as violating FCC indecency guidelines, specifically citing explicit sexual imagery and lyrics in the Super Bowl halftime show.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) is requesting that the Energy and Commerce Committee launch a formal congressional inquiry into the National Football League and NBC immediately for their prior knowledge, deliberate approval, and facilitation of the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, which featured explicit displays of sexual acts and lyrics on national television that represent a clear violation of FCC guidelines. “The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show was pure smut, brazenly aired on national television for every American family to witness. Children were forced to endure explicit displays of gay sexual acts, women gyrating provocatively, and Bad Bunny shamelessly grabbing his crotch while dry-humping the air. And if that weren't outrageous enough, the performance's lyrics openly glorified sodomy and countless other unspeakable depravities. These flagrant, indecent acts are illegal to be displayed on public airways,” Congressman Ogles said. “That is why I am requesting that the Energy and Commerce Committee launch a formal congressional inquiry into the National Football League and NBC immediately for their prior knowledge, deliberate approval, and facilitation of this indecent broadcast. American culture will not be mocked or corrupted without consequence,” said Congressman Ogles. Read The Letter Here # # #

Rep. Ogles Urges TN General Assembly To Audit NES, Strip Metro Nashville Of NES Jurisdiction

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) sent a letter to the Tennessee Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives asking them to perform immediate oversight of the failed Nashville Electric Service (NES) board, following reports that the utility cut millions of dollars in essential vegetation removal while purchasing over 100 diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for its employees and demonstrating severe ill-preparedness in responding to the ice storm that left hundreds of thousands of Nashvillians without power and many dead. Currently, over 10,000 Nashville residents are still without power, 10 days after the storm. Congressman Ogles’ letter asks the General Assembly to: take direct oversight of NES, dissolve the current NES Board, create a new accountable governance structure, and audit NES completely, including its spending, leadership, and emergency preparedness. “Last Wednesday, NES approved a contract for DEI trainings while 90,000 of their clients were out of power. In 2024, NES cut $7 million from its tree-trimming budget to fund over 100 DEI training courses,” said Congressman Ogles. “Why has NES prioritized racist politics over providing electricity for my constituents? Not only are tens of thousands still without power, but Nashville’s inept mayor refuses to step in. The city of Nashville has demonstrated it cannot handle municipal authority over NES, and therefore, the people’s representatives in the state must take control. Freddie O’Connell is culpable for the failures of NES and for shielding them from any accountability. I am trying to change that,” Congressman Ogles said. Read The Letter Here # # #

Nashville Loves No Tax on Tips

Position: Congressman Ogles supports the elimination of federal taxes on tips and gig payments, characterizing it as relief for working-class Americans in service and music industries.

Nashville, TN – Congressman Andy Ogles’ Office released new interviews with 17 middle Tennesseans in Nashville across multiple popular Broadway venues. Those interviewed consisted of songwriters, bartenders, and performers praising the One Big Beautiful Bill for ending federal taxes on tips and gig payments, a policy that delivers immediate relief to working Americans in music-driven cities like Nashville. “We are the party of the working class. These are people who work day to day just to make ends meet. Republicans should be focused on helping them get ahead, not trapping them in handouts. Ending taxes on tips did exactly that, and people noticed,” said Congressman Andy Ogles. “President Trump understands tipped wages belong to the worker, not the federal government. By working with this President to end taxes on tips and gigs, we delivered real relief for working Americans and real strength for cities like Nashville,” Congressman Ogles said. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE # # #

Chairman Ogles Holds Hearing to Coordinate American Cyber Offensive

Position: Chairman Ogles advocates for modernizing U.S. cyber infrastructure to develop offensive capabilities against state-sponsored cyber adversaries, particularly China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He emphasizes the need to strengthen both defensive and offensive cyber posture in response to foreign cyber threats.

Washington, DC – Chairman Andy Ogles held a hearing this week on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee to discuss how to modernize America’s cyber infrastructure for offensive capabilities against state-sponsored cyber opponents. Chairman Ogles brought in private sector cyber experts to provide insight on how Congress can prepare America for warfare on the digital frontier. The hearing, while bipartisan in nature, was briefly hijacked by Democratic members of the committee who used the hearing as a platform to attack patriotic ICE agents. “While serious members of my subcommittee tackled how to best defend America from foreign adversaries who cripple our cybersecurity, Democrats wasted their time attacking ICE heroes despite urgent national security threats. Just last week, China succeeded in stealing numerous emails from Congress, and Democrats are attacking law enforcement? They are unserious,” Congressman Ogles said “We are under attack, war has begun. We are fighting it from multiple adversaries: we have Russia, we have malign actors, we have Iran, we have North Korea, and of course, we have China. And let me be clear, we are the United States of America, we have been alerted, we are aware, and we are watching. And if I have my will, we’re going on offense, we will strengthen our defense, and there is going to be a price to pay when you incur or infringe on our cyber space,” said Congressman Ogles WATCH MY OPENING STATEMENT # # #