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Proposal to End the Diversity Visa Lottery Program Advances in the House

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The Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act (H.R. 704), which would eliminate the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on July 21, 2011, by a vote of 19 to 11. The bill, also known as the SAFE for America Act, was introduced in February 2011 by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R–VA).

The Diversity Visa Lottery Program makes available 55,000 visas annually. Applicants register for the Diversity Visa lottery, and visa recipients are selected randomly from entries that meet eligibility requirements. This year’s lottery made headlines when, due to a computer coding error, most of the winners were selected from among those who applied in the first two days of the 30-day application period, denying the other applicants an equal chance of being selected. The initial results were voided and a second drawing was held.

Photo credit: David Franklin

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