Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has introduced legislation that would temporarily suspend nearly all immigration to the United States until the federal government enacts sweeping reforms to what he called a “broken and exploited” system.
The proposal, known as the PAUSE Act — short for Pause on Admissions Until Security Ensured — would freeze legal immigration admissions and overhaul policies ranging from chain migration to visa programs. The measure would also scrap the Diversity Visa lottery, restrict access to welfare benefits for noncitizens, and limit birthright citizenship to children with at least one American citizen or permanent resident parent.
“The problem isn’t just illegal immigration; it’s also legal immigration,” Roy said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, which first obtained the bill. “While the Biden administration opened our borders and allowed millions to flood into our country, they also rubber-stamped millions more arriving through convoluted legal schemes, completely overwhelming the system. The American people are done being taken advantage of by the rest of the world.”
Roy, a prominent border hawk and ally of President Donald Trump, said his legislation would force the government to “pump the brakes” on immigration until Congress dismantles decades-old programs that have “invited abuse.” The bill mirrors Trump’s recent calls to adopt a merit-based immigration framework that prioritizes applicants who can contribute economically rather than gain entry through family ties or random selection.
Under the PAUSE Act, nearly all new immigration would cease until the Department of Homeland Security certifies that the southern border is secure and that reforms to the visa system are complete. The legislation would:
- Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, which currently allocates green cards by lottery.
- End “chain migration” by prohibiting U.S. citizens from sponsoring extended relatives beyond spouses and minor children.
- Restrict birthright citizenship to children with at least one American or lawful permanent resident parent.
- Bar immigrants from accessing federal welfare programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and public housing.
- Allow states and localities to restrict public school enrollment to U.S. citizens and green card holders.
The bill also includes national security provisions barring entry to members of the Chinese Communist Party, adherents of extremist ideologies including Sharia law, and anyone linked to a designated terrorist organization. It would terminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program — which allows foreign graduates to work in the U.S. — and prevent temporary visa holders from adjusting to permanent status.
“Our immigration system is supposed to benefit Americans,” Roy said. “We must put a pause on immigration until we fundamentally fix our broken system.”
The legislation quickly drew support from conservative immigration groups. Rosemary Jenks, co-founder of the Immigration Accountability Project, called the measure “exactly the ‘pause’ in immigration that is necessary for America to get our house in order.”
“A national conversation about an immigration policy that actually serves Americans’ interests is long overdue,” Jenks said. “The PAUSE Act’s moratorium will give us the space to have it.”
RJ Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement, said Congress should act quickly. “Entry is a privilege linked to allegiance to our constitutional order,” Hauman said. “Once again, Rep. Chip Roy sets the standard.”
Several House Republicans — including Reps. Keith Self and Brandon Gill of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Andy Ogles of Tennessee — have signed on as co-sponsors.
Roy’s proposal follows years of escalating immigration crises under the Biden administration, which saw record numbers of migrant crossings before Trump’s policies dramatically reduced illegal entries in 2025. Despite those gains, Roy said systemic flaws persist — from overstayed visas to asylum loopholes — that continue to strain city budgets and law enforcement resources nationwide.
The Texas Republican, who announced a bid this year for state attorney general, has positioned immigration reform at the center of his campaign platform. He said the PAUSE Act represents a blueprint for the broader national agenda he hopes to carry to Austin.
