Trump Considers Green Card Suspension After Brown University Shooting

A former senior immigration official warns the Trump administration could end Green Card programs entirely. This warning follows the immediate suspension of the Diversity Visa Lottery. Officials cited the recent Brown University shooting suspect’s immigration path.

The suspect entered the U.S. through the lottery program. The administration’s move signals a broader policy shift. It focuses on individual incidents to justify sweeping changes.

Green Card Program Faces Potential Termination

The Trump administration may permanently halt various Green Card initiatives. This assessment comes from a former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) chief of staff. The official served until last November.

According to Newsweek, Ricky Murray stated the administration would like to end the programs. He noted significant legislative hurdles prevent easy cancellation. Congress would need to act for a permanent change.

The administration recently suspended the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem linked the suspension directly to a tragic shooting. The suspect was a Portuguese national who gained status via the lottery in 2017.

This action follows a similar pattern from earlier this year. The administration paused immigration applications from Afghanistan and other nations. That pause followed a violent incident in Washington, D.C. linked to an Afghan national.

Murray criticized this pattern to Newsweek. He said one individual’s actions are used to judge entire groups. The U.S. system was designed to assess individual merit, he argued.

Policy Shift Based on Criminal Incidents

The policy change stems from a specific criminal case. Neves Valente, 48, is alleged to have opened fire at Brown University on December 13. The attack killed two students and injured nine others.

Valente is also a suspect in the killing of an MIT professor days later. Police reports state Valente died by suicide. He was found in New Hampshire.

Secretary Noem explained the administration’s reasoning on social media. She stated the suspect should never have been allowed into the country. His lawful permanent resident status came via the Diversity Visa program.

The program provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually. It targets countries with low U.S. immigration rates. Winners are chosen randomly but must pass education, work, and security checks.

Reuters reporting confirms the administration’s use of this incident for policy change. The move has sparked debate among immigration experts. Critics argue it abandons case-by-case assessment principles.

Murray told Newsweek the administration seeks to group people together. He said officials look for one misstep to justify blocking everyone. This represents a fundamental shift in U.S. immigration philosophy.

Legal and Legislative Hurdles

Despite the administration’s desire, ending Green Card programs faces obstacles. The Diversity Visa Program is established by Congress through the Immigration and Nationality Act. The President cannot unilaterally abolish it without legislative change.

Suspension authority exists under certain provisions. These include broad public safety or national security claims. Legal experts anticipate court challenges to prolonged suspensions.

The potential termination of the Green Card program marks a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration policy. This approach ties broad access changes to specific criminal acts. The long-term impact on legal immigration channels remains uncertain.

References: Newsweek, Reuters.