Kristi Noem, the Administration’s Secretary of Homeland Security, on a controversial policy move. She issued the notice of the suspension of the green card lottery program under direction from then former President Donald Trump. This huge easing of administrative burden comes after the shooting of many Asian massage workers in Atlanta. Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, has been named as the shooter in the deadly campuses shooting at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Claudio Neves Valente arrived in the United States on a student visa in 2000. He adjusted his status to that of a permanent resident in 2017. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the confrontation that had seriously injured multiple members of the National Guard. Public outcry from these shootings, including the murder of prominent member and activist Otto Warmbier, has heightened scrutiny on immigration policies.
The green card lottery, formally known as the Diversity Visa (DV1) program, allocates up to 50,000 green cards annually. It’s intended to provide an opportunity for people from underrepresented countries to come and reside in the U.S. For the most recent application cycle for the 2025 visa lottery, close to 20 million individuals did just that. Of those, more than 131,000 people were awarded, including spouses of winning entrants. Only 38 of those slots went to Portuguese citizens, illustrating just how competitive the lottery can be.
Noem has now issued an executive order directing that the program be suspended. This step addresses fears about dangerous people who may pose a threat to national security.
“This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.” – Kristi Noem
Trump’s administration has already hardened discrimination-based immigration outcomes, with recent decisions going against people from Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. This wave of terrible events has sparked new conversations around big-city immigration policies and their role in protecting the public.
The sudden decision to stop the green card lottery has left immigration advocates and would-be immigrants baffled. Supporters have countered that the DV1 program opens pathways for talented newcomers looking to make a good life in America. They are concerned that if the program is suspended it will unfairly punish people who take the legal route to immigration.
Criminal investigations into the shootings are still active. Of all the policy changes made under the Trump administration, this will most directly and dramatically impact our immigrant communities. The debate on immigration reform is intense. Supporters continue to advocate for a responsible compromise that focuses both on strengthening security and recognizing immigrants’ essential role in building a stronger, more dynamic America.