President Trump Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery Following University Shooting
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered the immediate suspension of the United States’ green card lottery program, a move directly linked by administration officials to a fatal mass shooting last week at Brown University.
The executive action comes after an attack on the Ivy League campus that left two people dead. The suspected gunman, identified as a Portuguese national who entered the U.S. in 2017, was found dead last Thursday.
According to American officials, the suspect legally immigrated through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the green card lottery. The program awards up to 55,000 permanent resident cards annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
“He was selected, he came in, and officials believed he wanted to pursue the American dream,” a senior administration official stated. “Instead, he turned into a monster.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the program’s pause, stating she acted under the President’s direction. “The integrity of our immigration system must protect the American people above all else,” Secretary Noem said. “This pause is necessary to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous programme while we conduct a full security review.”
The Diversity Visa Lottery, established in 1990, has been a frequent target of criticism from President Trump and some Republican lawmakers, who argue it is vulnerable to fraud and does not prioritize skills-based immigration. Proponents of the program defend it as a vital pathway for legal immigration that enhances the nation’s cultural and demographic diversity.
The suspension is expected to face immediate legal challenges and sharp condemnation from immigration advocacy groups. The administration has not specified the duration of the pause but indicated it is part of a broader reassessment of visa vetting procedures.
The investigation into the Brown University shooting continues. The names of the victims and the suspect have not yet been publicly released pending family notifications.
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