Thousands of Kenyans who dreamed of a new life in the United States are now facing uncertainty after the Trump administration announced a sudden pause on the Diversity Visa lottery program DV lottery program.
The move, linked to a recent deadly shooting, has halted the issuance of green cards through the popular initiative, leaving many applicants in limbo just as they were preparing for interviews and relocations.
The DV lottery, often called the green card lottery, offers up to 55,000 permanent residency visas each year to people from countries with low immigration rates to the US. For Kenyans, it has been a beacon of hope amid economic challenges at home, providing a rare chance to migrate without family ties or job offers. But on 19 December 2025, US officials pulled the plug, citing security concerns.
The trigger: A shooting and long-standing criticisms
The suspension came in the wake of a tragic shooting at Brown University on 13 December 2025, where a Portuguese national, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, killed two students and injured nine others. Valente, who later allegedly murdered a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had entered the US on a student visa in 2000 but obtained his green card through the DV program in 2017. Authorities found him dead from a self-inflicted wound after a multi-state manhunt.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the pause, stating: “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the DV program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.” President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of the lottery, has repeatedly called it a risk to national security, echoing his past attempts to end it after a 2017 New York terrorist attack involving a DV recipient.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the issuance of diversity visas is “indefinitely paused until we can be sure we know exactly who we are letting in.” The decision aligns with broader immigration reforms, including reviews of green cards from certain countries and pauses on asylum processing.
While the pause is described as temporary for reviewing vetting procedures, its duration remains unclear, fueling anxiety among applicants worldwide.
Kenya stake in the lottery
Kenya has been one of the top beneficiaries of the DV program in Africa. In the DV-2025 cycle, which drew nearly 20 million global entries, 4,459 Kenyans were selected – ranking the country sixth worldwide and fourth on the continent. This is up from 3,706 winners in DV-2024, reflecting growing interest amid high unemployment and economic pressures in Kenya.
For many, the lottery represents a lifeline. Winners undergo rigorous background checks, medical exams, and interviews at the US Embassy in Nairobi, often investing significant time and money. The non-refundable interview fee alone is USD330 (about KSh42600), a hefty sum for average Kenyans. Families sell assets or take loans to cover costs like travel, documentation, and relocation.
The program has enabled thousands of Kenyans to build new lives in the US over the years, contributing to remittances that bolster Kenya’s economy. In 2024, diaspora remittances hit a record USD4.2B, with the US as a key source.
Immediate fallout for DV-2025 winners
The suspension has thrown the DV-2025 process into chaos. Selected Kenyans, many of whom received notifications in May 2025, were gearing up for consular interviews scheduled through September 2026. Now, processing is frozen, leaving their applications in purgatory.
“This is devastating,” said one anonymous applicant from Nairobi, who had quit his job in anticipation of moving. “We’ve planned our lives around this – schools for kids, selling homes. What now?” Such stories are common, with families plunged into profound anxiety as hopes turn to despair.
Those already in the US on temporary visas can still apply to adjust status through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, but for most overseas applicants, the path is blocked. Legal experts warn that if the pause extends, winners risk losing eligibility, as visas must be issued within the fiscal year.
The US Embassy in Nairobi has not detailed local impacts but continues processing other visa types. However, the broader context includes a separate presidential proclamation suspending visas from 38 countries for security reasons, though Kenya is not listed. This means the DV pause specifically targets the lottery mechanism, not Kenyan nationals per se.
Long-term implications for future applicants
Looking ahead, the suspension casts a shadow over future cycles. DV-2026 entries were submitted in October-November 2025, with results due in May 2026. Officials say those results remain valid, but the pause applies to new applications and issuance. If extended, it could effectively end the program, which Trump has vowed to replace with a merit-based system favoring skilled workers.
For Kenya, where youth unemployment hovers at 35%, the loss would be acute. “The DV lottery levels the playing field for ordinary people,” noted immigration consultant Jane Mwangi in Nairobi. “Without it, migration options shrink to family reunification or high-skill visas, which exclude many.”
Africa dominates the program, with most 2026 participants from the continent. Countries like Nigeria and Ghana also face hits, but Kenya consistent high selection rates amplify the blow.
Reactions and potential challenges
Kenyans have expressed outrage online and in media. “This is unfair – we’re not terrorists,” posted one user on social media, reflecting widespread frustration. Advocacy groups argue the program already includes stringent vetting, and linking it to isolated incidents is politically motivated.
Legal challenges are likely. The DV lottery is enshrined in law, and past attempts to scrap it failed in Congress. Immigrant rights organizations may sue, citing overreach.
In Washington, the pause is part of Trump aggressive immigration agenda, including border wall expansions and deportation drives. But for Kenyan hopefuls, it’s personal – a dream deferred, perhaps indefinitely.
As the dust settles, many are left wondering: Will the lottery resume, or is this the end of an era? For now, the answer lies in policy reviews and potential court battles, while thousands hold their breath.
Agencies contributed to this report
