The United States government has suspended its Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme—commonly known as the Green Card Lottery—following a deadly mass shooting at Brown University that reignited concerns about the scheme’s security screening process.
The suspension was ordered by President Donald Trump after authorities confirmed that the alleged gunman in the Brown University attack had entered the United States through the lottery programme years earlier.
Understanding the US Green Card Lottery
The Green Card Lottery is an immigration programme created to diversify the population of lawful permanent residents in the United States.
Each year, the programme makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available to people from countries with historically low rates of migration to the US.
Applicants are selected through a random computer-based draw, provided they meet basic eligibility requirements such as education or work experience.
Successful applicants receive permanent residency, commonly referred to as a “green card,” allowing them to live and work in the US indefinitely.
The programme has long been controversial, with critics arguing that random selection does not allow for sufficient vetting, while supporters say it offers opportunity to people who might otherwise have no pathway to US residency.
Why the Programme Has Been Paused
The renewed scrutiny comes after a gunman opened fire inside an engineering building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two students and injuring several others during final exams.
US authorities later identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national who entered the US through the Diversity Visa programme in 2017 and later obtained permanent residency.
He was found dead days later in New Hampshire, in what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials also believe the same suspect was responsible for the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor earlier in the week, linking the two incidents through surveillance footage and vehicle evidence.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the programme was suspended under presidential direction to prevent further loss of life, arguing that the suspect “should never have been allowed into the country.”
A Long-Running Political Debate
The Green Card Lottery has been the subject of political debate for years. President Trump previously attempted to end the programme during his first term, particularly after the 2017 New York truck attack that killed eight people.
The perpetrator of that attack had also entered the US through the diversity visa system.
Supporters of the suspension say recent events highlight flaws in the screening process, while critics warn that halting the programme could unfairly penalise millions of peaceful immigrants who use the scheme legally each year.
What Happens Next?
US officials have not announced whether the suspension is temporary or the first step toward permanently ending the programme.
The Department of Homeland Security is expected to conduct a review of the lottery system, including its vetting procedures and security safeguards.
For now, applications and selections under the Green Card Lottery have been placed on hold as the administration reassesses whether the programme aligns with current immigration and national security priorities.
The incident has once again placed immigration policy, gun violence, and public safety at the centre of national debate in the United States.
