US President Donald Trump has suspended the Diversity Visa programme, known as the green card lottery, after a Portuguese national who gained residency through it carried out deadly shootings at Brown University and MIT.
The move, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, halts a key legal immigration route and hits African nations hardest, with nearly 4,500 Kenyan winners for 2025 now in limbo.
The suspension reflects Trump long-running criticism of the programme as a security risk. African countries, its main beneficiaries, face disrupted migration, lost remittances and stalled opportunities.
The catalyst: Brown University and MIT shootings
The shootings occurred at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 43-year-old Portuguese national, killed several people before taking his own life. He had lived in the US for over 20 years and obtained permanent residency in 2017 via the lottery.
Noem posted on X: “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by heinous individuals who should never have been allowed in our country in the first place.” Though the suspect was European, the programme largely serves Africans due to low historical migration from the continent.
Trump opposition to the Diversity Visa programme
Trump has long sought to abolish the lottery. In 2017, after a terror attack by an Uzbek winner, he called it a national security threat and urged Congress to end it.
Republican efforts to replace random selection with merit-based criteria failed, but Trump briefly halted green cards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics view the current pause as a bid for permanent termination despite thorough vetting.
What is the Diversity Visa lottery
Established in 1990, the programme offers up to 55,000 visas yearly to countries with low US immigration. Applicants need high school education or equivalent experience and a clean record. For 2025, nearly 20 million applied worldwide, with over 131,000 selected before final vetting.
Supporters praise its accessibility; critics say it ignores skills, though many winners are qualified professionals.
Africa stake in the lottery
Africa received 40% of diversity visas from 1995 to 2017, ahead of Europe at 31%. Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt lead recipients. The programme has driven skilled migration and remittances.
Trump expanded travel bans to 39 countries, many African, deepening barriers for applicants.
Impacts on African nations
Thousands of selectees in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana face uncertainty; some sold assets to prepare. Experts warn of weakened economic ties and reduced diaspora contributions.
At least 10 African countries are affected by related green card reviews.
Spotlight on Kenya: dreams deferred
Kenya had 4,459 winners for 2025, ranking sixth globally. Many young professionals and teachers now see plans frozen.
Nairobi software engineer Jane Mwangi (name changed), 32, paid the USD 330 interview fee before the suspension. “We have invested so much. What do we do?” she asked.
High youth unemployment drives Kenya participation. Winners help send over USD 4 billion in remittances yearly – about 4% of GDP. Advocacy groups highlight mental health and economic risks.
US student visa declines for Kenyans add further pressure.
Broader Trump immigration policies
The suspension aligns with expanded travel bans and a proposed “Trump Gold Card” for wealthy immigrants, prioritising skills over diversity.
Reactions from stakeholders
Rights groups call it opportunistic; African Union officials seek dialogue. Trump supporters welcome the security focus. Republicans push permanent abolition; Democrats vow scrutiny.
What happens next
The pause is termed temporary, but may endure. 2026 entries are halted. Outcomes for winners, including Kenyans, hinge on legal or policy shifts.
For many Africans, the American dream feels farther away.
