WASHINGTON (AP) — In a dramatic policy shift, President Donald Trump has suspended the green card lottery program that previously allowed individuals to enter the U.S. under the diversity visa program. This decision came after the identification of Claudio Neves Valente, the main suspect in the recent Brown University and MIT shootings, as a beneficiary of the program.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced this measure on social media, stating that under Trump's directive, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will pause the program, which she argued allowed a 'heinous individual' into the country.
Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, is accused of being responsible for the deadly shootings that claimed two lives and injured several others before taking his own life. He legally obtained permanent resident status in the U.S. in 2017.
The diversity visa lottery was created to offer 50,000 green cards each year through a random selection process for individuals from countries with low representation in the U.S., often targeting populations in Africa. The suspension of this program could lead to significant legal challenges as it goes against established Congressional procedures.
In the latest lottery, nearly 20 million applicants entered for the available slots, with only a small number receiving invitations to apply for a green card. This announcement follows a trend where the Trump administration has used tragic events to frame broader immigration policy changes.
Critics of the decision argue that it reflects an ongoing agenda to limit legal immigration channels in the U.S., especially as the administration continues to face scrutiny over its immigration tactics, including attempts to end birthright citizenship.
