US President Donald Trump has ordered an immediate halt to the green card lottery, officially known as the Diversity Visa Program, following deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The attacks claimed three lives and left several others injured. The decision came after authorities confirmed that the suspect had entered the United States through this immigration programme.
What Is the Green Card Lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly called the green card lottery, was created by the US Congress to encourage immigration from countries that send fewer migrants to the United States.
Each year, the programme makes up to 50,000 to 55,000 green cards available through a random selection process. Many of these visas go to applicants from African countries. Winners, along with their spouses, can apply for permanent residency after passing background checks, security screenings, and consular interviews.
The programme is free to enter and is run by the US Department of State. Applicants must meet basic education or work requirements, and being selected does not guarantee a visa.
US Green Card Lottery Applied By Millions Each Year
The green card lottery attracts huge interest worldwide. For the 2025 lottery alone, nearly 20 million people applied. More than 131,000 individuals, including family members, were selected. Of those selected, only 38 were Portuguese citizens.
Green Card Lottery Alternate Name
Green card lotteryis also known as Diversity Visa Program.
History Behind US Green Card Lottery
The Green Card Lottery was established under the Immigration Act of 1990, which was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by former President George H. W. Bush. The law made the programme permanent and aimed to diversify the immigrant population by selecting applicants mainly from countries with low immigration numbers over the previous five years.
Before this, the US had run several temporary visa lotteries between the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the Donnelly, Berman, and Morrison visa programmes. These earlier schemes benefited certain countries, especially Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Why Did Trump Suspend the Green Card Lottery?
President Trump suspended the Diversity Visa Program on December 18, 2025, just days after the mass shootings at Brown University and MIT. Investigators revealed that the accused gunman, a Portuguese national, had moved to the US in 2017 through the lottery system.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on social media platform X. She said the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had been directed to stop the programme immediately.
The Trump administration described the programme as “disastrous” and blamed it for allowing a dangerous individual to legally enter the US. Officials said the suspension fits with Trump’s long-standing position on reducing immigration, especially after violent incidents linked to existing policies.
The administration is also pushing for wider changes to immigration law. These include challenging birthright citizenship and increasing enforcement against both legal and illegal immigration routes.
Suspect as Claudio Neves Valente Entered Into US through Green Card Lottery
Authorities identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese citizen. Officials confirmed that he became a legal permanent resident of the United States in 2017 after entering through the diversity visa lottery.
US Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B Foley confirmed his immigration status. After the attacks, authorities said Valente died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday evening.
What Happened in Brown University Shooting?
According to investigators, Valente shot and killed two students at Brown University and an MIT professor. Nine other people were injured during the violent rampage. The shootings shocked the nation and triggered immediate political and policy reactions.
Trump’s Long Opposition to the Visa Lottery
President Trump has repeatedly criticised the diversity visa system, arguing that it creates national security risks. Kristi Noem’s announcement marks the latest instance where a violent incident has been cited as a reason to tighten immigration rules. Earlier in Trump’s presidency, after an Afghan national was linked to a deadly attack on National Guard members, the administration imposed broad immigration restrictions on Afghanistan and other countries.
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