Trump Administration Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery Following Brown University Shooting

Last updated on 2 hours ago

Washington (Visas & Travels) – The Trump administration has announced the immediate suspension of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (commonly known as the Green Card Lottery or DV Program), citing the entry pathway used by the suspect in the recent Brown University mass shooting.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that President Trump directed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the program, describing it as a measure to prevent potential harm. The suspect, identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, entered the United States through the DV Program in 2017 and subsequently obtained permanent residency (green card status).

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that President Trump ordered USCIS to halt the program as a precautionary measure. Share on X

The Diversity Visa Program annually allocates up to 50,000 immigrant visas through a lottery system to applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners undergo standard vetting, interviews, and background checks before admission.

Background on the Incident

The shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, resulted in fatalities and injuries. Authorities linked the suspect to an additional killing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The individual was later found deceased from a self-inflicted wound.

This suspension represents the latest in a series of immigration policy adjustments by the administration, reflecting longstanding criticism of the lottery system as insufficiently merit-based and posing security risks. It follows the recent expansion of travel restrictions to 39 countries (announced 16 December 2025), which imposed full or partial visa bans on nations primarily in Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia and the Middle East, citing similar vetting and overstay concerns.

Implications for Visa Applicants

• Current DV-2026 and DV-2027 Cycles: Processing is paused indefinitely. Applicants who have already won selection or submitted entries may face delays or cancellations.
• Future Participation: The program is halted until further notice; no new lotteries or visa issuances under DV categories will proceed.
• Other Visa Pathways Unaffected: Family-sponsored, employment-based, and refugee/asylee visas remain operational.

The move is expected to face legal scrutiny, as the program is established by congressional legislation (Immigration Act of 1990).

Travelers and applicants are advised to monitor official USCIS and Department of State channels for updates on individual cases.