The Trump administration has suspended the diversity visa lottery programme, citing its use by the suspect in deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on 18 December 2025 that the United States would immediately pause the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the green card lottery. The decision, directed by President Donald Trump, follows revelations that the suspect in recent campus attacks entered the country through the programme in 2017.
Noem described the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, as a “heinous individual” who should never have been allowed entry. In a post on *X*, she stated that Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, had gained permanent residency via the lottery before allegedly carrying out the violence.
Shootings shock elite universities
The attacks began on 13 December 2025 at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Valente allegedly burst into an auditorium during a study session, firing at least 44 rounds from a 9mm pistol. Two students – Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov – were killed, while nine others were wounded.
Two days later, on 15 December, authorities say Valente fatally shot Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old MIT physics professor specialising in nuclear fusion, at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Loureiro and Valente had attended the same academic programme in Portugal between 1995 and 2000.
Valente, who had briefly studied physics at Brown as a PhD student from 2000 to 2001 before withdrawing in 2003, evaded capture for days. A multi-state manhunt ended on 18 December when he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a rented storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Two firearms were recovered nearby.
Investigators traced his movements through surveillance footage, rental car records and hotel stays. He had rented a grey Nissan Sentra in Boston on 1 December and was seen near Brown University multiple times before the attack.
Details of diversity visa programme
Created by Congress in the 1990s, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program allocates up to 55,000 permanent resident visas annually through a random lottery. It targets nationals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
Applicants must have at least a high school education or equivalent work experience. Winners undergo background checks, medical examinations and in-person interviews before approval.
Nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 cycle, with over 131,000 selected including family members. Portugal, Valente’s home country, typically receives few slots – only 38 in recent years.
President Trump has long criticised the programme as a security risk lacking merit-based criteria. During his first term, he sought its elimination after a 2017 New York attack by a diversity visa recipient from Uzbekistan.
Impact on African applicants
The suspension hits hardest in Africa, where recipients have dominated recent years. More than 40% of visas often go to African nations, providing a key pathway for economic migration and family reunification.
Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia and Cameroon see thousands of winners annually. Remittances from these immigrants support local economies, while many cite escaping conflict or seeking better education for children.
Immigration experts warn of widespread disruption. “This abrupt pause strands applicants mid-process and could fuel brain drain in vulnerable regions,” said one analyst. Current selectees face frozen cases, with no resumption timeline given.
Political reactions and legal outlook
The move has deepened partisan divides. Democrats called it opportunistic and xenophobic, arguing thorough vetting already exists. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said linking one case to the entire programme ignores safeguards.
Republicans hailed it as essential protection. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the “bold step” aligning with America First priorities.
Legal challenges loom. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, signalled intent to sue, claiming the pause oversteps executive authority without congressional approval. Past Trump-era restrictions faced court blocks.
Noem indicated the halt allows a “thorough review” of procedures, though the programme is largely managed by the State Department.
Aftermath on campuses
Communities at Brown and MIT continue grieving. Vigils honoured the victims, including Cook, a promising young scholar, and Umurzokov, an international student. Loureiro was remembered as a pioneering scientist.
All injured from Brown have stabilised or been discharged, hospital officials said on 18 December.
As investigations probe motives – still unclear despite personal connections – the suspension marks another escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration reforms. With mass deportations underway, the lottery’s future remains uncertain.
Agencies contributed to this report
