Trump suspends green card lottery after Brown University, MIT shootings
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has suspended the diversity visa program, also known as the green card lottery. This decision comes after the suspect in the recent Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shootings was found to have entered the US through this program. The suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and Brown University student from Miami, Florida, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Program details
Diversity visa program: Aims and controversies
The diversity visa program, which issues up to 50,000 green cards annually to applicants from underrepresented countries, was established by Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990. The initiative aims to diversify the US immigrant population by selecting people from countries with low immigration rates over the past five years. However, Trump has long opposed this lottery system and his administration has previously used tragedies to push immigration policy changes.
Application surge
Nearly 20 million apply for 2025 lottery
In the 2025 lottery, nearly 20 million people applied, with over 131,000 selected including spouses of winners. Portuguese citizens were allotted only 38 slots under this program. After winning the lottery, applicants are invited to apply for a green card and undergo vetting at consulates in line with other green card applicants.
Policy implications
Trump's immigration policies face legal challenges
Trump's decision to suspend the diversity visa program is expected to face legal challenges as it was created by Congress. The move comes amid his administration's broader efforts to limit or eliminate pathways to legal immigration. Additionally, there has been a recent Supreme Court challenge over birthright citizenship. This decision also underscores Trump's continued push for mass deportation and stricter immigration controls.