Trump Administration Suspends DV1 Visa Lottery After University Shooting

The Trump administration has suspended the DV1 green card lottery. The move follows a deadly shooting at Brown University. Officials linked the suspected shooter to the program.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the pause. Secretary Kristi Noem issued the order. She directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to halt the Diversity Visa Program.

The program awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas yearly. It is also known as the green card lottery. Selection is random for people from nations with low U.S. immigration rates.

Shooting Suspect Entered U.S. Through Lottery

Secretary Noem identified the Brown University suspect. He is 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente.

She stated he entered the U.S. via the DV1 program in 2017. He later obtained a lawful permanent resident card. Officials believe he should never have been admitted.

The shooting left two people dead. Nine others were injured. The incident shocked the Rhode Island campus.

What Is The DV1 Diversity Visa Lottery?

The suspension puts a major immigration pathway on hold. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is run by the State Department.

It aims to diversify the immigrant population. Nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 lottery. According to the Associated Press, over 131,000 were selected.

Winners can apply for green cards. They undergo extensive vetting and consular interviews. The process mirrors other immigrant visa applications.

Secretary Noem connected this case to past tragedies. She cited a 2017 New York City truck attack. That perpetrator also entered through the DV1 lottery.

President Trump long opposed the program. He previously sought to end it legislatively. The administration now uses executive action.

Broader Immigration Crackdown Continues

The DV1 freeze is part of a wider push. The Trump administration is enacting stricter immigration rules.

A travel ban on Afghanistan and several African nations was imposed in November. That followed a fatal shooting by an Afghan national.

Vetting for H-1B work visas was also tightened. New rules mandate social media screening. The State Department calls every visa a national security decision.

Officials stated the U.S. must remain vigilant. The goal is to prevent harm to Americans. A visa is a privilege, not a right, they emphasized.

The suspension of the DV1 visa lottery marks a significant policy shift. It directly ties immigration channels to national security concerns. The future of the diversity visa program now faces profound uncertainty.