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| Kristi Noem Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr |
Trump Administration Orders Suspension of Diversity Visa Program Following Campus Shooting
President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program following revelations that the suspected gunman in recent shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology entered the country through the program.
The suspect, identified as Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, reportedly entered the United States in 2017 under the Diversity Visa program, which provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually through a random lottery system. The program is designed to increase immigration from countries with historically low admission rates to the U.S., allowing selected applicants to pursue permanent residency after meeting eligibility requirements.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the action in a statement Thursday, saying the administration is moving swiftly to prevent further risks to public safety. Noem noted that President Trump previously sought to eliminate the program during his first term, citing national security concerns following the 2017 New York City ISIS truck-ramming attack, in which the perpetrator had also entered the U.S. under the diversity visa pathway.
“At President Trump’s direction, USCIS is immediately pausing the DV program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this flawed system,” Noem wrote, emphasizing the administration’s view that the program poses unacceptable security risks.
Legal experts note that the diversity visa program was created by Congress, raising questions about whether the executive branch has the authority to unilaterally suspend it without legislative action.
Authorities found Valente dead inside a storage unit in New Hampshire on Thursday after receiving a tip regarding his location. The shooting at Brown University resulted in two fatalities, occurring just days after an MIT professor was killed in a separate incident. Federal investigators have stated there is currently no confirmed link between the two cases.
The suspension of the diversity visa program marks the latest immigration-related action taken by the Trump administration in response to violent incidents involving foreign nationals. In recent weeks, the administration has also paused asylum applications and immigration processing from several countries deemed high risk, following other high-profile crimes.
Officials say further reviews of U.S. immigration pathways are underway as the administration continues to prioritize border security and public safety.
FAQs
What did Kristi Noem announce about the Diversity Visa Program?
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered an immediate pause of the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program following concerns over national security and its use by a recent shooting suspect.
Why was the Diversity Visa Program suspended?
The suspension followed revelations that the suspect in recent campus shootings entered the U.S. through the DV lottery program, prompting a security review.
What is the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program?
The DV program allows up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States through a random selection process.
Can the president suspend the Diversity Visa program?
The DV program was created by Congress, and it remains unclear whether the president has unilateral authority to permanently suspend it without legislative action.
Does the suspension affect current visa holders?
The pause applies to new DV applications and processing. Current green card holders are not immediately affected.
Is this suspension permanent?
No. The suspension is described as a temporary pause while the administration conducts a security and policy review.
Are private-sector workers or other visa categories affected?
No. The action targets only the Diversity Visa program and does not apply to other immigration pathways.

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