Friday, December 19, 2025
US President Donald Trump has suspended the Green Card Diversity Visa Lottery Program after it emerged that the suspect involved in deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) entered the United States through this scheme.
According to the Associated Press, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Friday through a post on social media platform X. She said the move was taken on the direct instructions of President Trump and that immigration authorities have been ordered to immediately halt the program.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Portuguese national Cláudio Neves Valent, is accused of opening fire at Brown University, killing two students and injuring nine others. He is also alleged to have shot and killed an MIT professor. US authorities later confirmed that the suspect’s body has been recovered, indicating he died by suicide after the attacks.
Officials revealed that Valent first entered the US on a student visa in 2000 to study at Brown University. Years later, in 2017, he was granted a Diversity Immigrant Visa, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, and received permanent legal residency within months. However, authorities have said it remains unclear where he was between leaving school in 2001 and receiving the visa in 2017.
Commenting on the case, Kristi Noem said the suspect “should never have been allowed to enter the United States,” calling him a dangerous individual. President Trump has long been a vocal critic of the Diversity Visa Program, arguing that it poses security risks.
The Diversity Visa Lottery allows up to 50,000 people each year from countries with low immigration rates to the US to apply for permanent residency. For the 2025 lottery, nearly 20 million people applied worldwide, with over 123,000 selected for further processing. These applicants still have to pass interviews and security checks before being allowed to enter the US.
Reports show that 58 Portuguese citizens were approved under this program in recent years. The suspension is expected to spark debate, especially among immigration advocates who argue that the program already includes strict vetting procedures.
This is not the first time the US has tightened immigration rules following violent incidents. Earlier, Washington imposed tougher measures after a deadly attack involving an Afghan national, further signaling a hardline stance on immigration under President Trump.
2 Comments
Pingback: Ambani Gifts Lionel Messi Million-Dollar Watch During India Visit
Just had to drop a review for betrupees. Actually found a solid selection of games and the whole site is well put together. Had a few wins so far, so I’m a happy camper.