Trump Administration Suspends US Green Card Lottery Amid Security Concerns

Trump Administration Halts Diversity Visa Program Over Security Fears

In a significant move impacting U.S. immigration policy, theTrump administration suspends US green card lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV1) program. This directive comes directly from President Trump and was announced by Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, citing its alleged connection to a recent violent incident.

The suspension follows revelations that Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national accused in a deadly mass shooting, reportedly gained entry to the United States through this very lottery program in 2017, subsequently receiving a green card. Neves Valente is implicated in a horrific event at Brown University on December 13, where he allegedly opened fire on students during exams, resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries. He is also accused of killing a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) two days later. Following a multi-day manhunt, police later confirmed Neves Valente died by suicide.

Immediate Action: Pausing the DV1 Program

Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem stated on social media, “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.” She emphasized, “This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.”

The U.S. diversity green card lottery typically grants up to 55,000 permanent resident visas each year. This program is designed for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. To be eligible, applicants must possess at least a high school education or two years of specific training or work experience. Furthermore, all applicants undergo a vetting process, which includes a mandatory interview.

Broader Immigration Crackdown Under Trump

The suspension of the green card lottery is consistent with the Trump administration's broader, aggressive stance on immigration. Throughout his tenure, President Trump has actively sought to tighten immigration controls, closing perceived loopholes and implementing stricter entry requirements.

Recent reports from the New York Times, citing internal guidance, also indicate the administration's intent to intensify efforts to revoke the citizenship of some naturalized Americans. The USCIS guidance, issued earlier this week, reportedly instructs field offices to submit “100-200 denaturalization cases per month” for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year. This initiative underscores a significant push to review and potentially alter the status of current citizens.

The administration's extensive immigration agenda has already seen the implementation of travel bans, attempts to end birthright citizenship, and, more recently, a pause on various immigration applications – including green card and U.S. citizenship processing – for immigrants hailing from 19 non-European nations. These actions collectively paint a clear picture of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration system under the current administration.