DHS Secretary Kristi Noem suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery Friday after revelations that Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente—a Portuguese national—entered the U.S. through the program, which has imported nearly 500,000 migrants per decade, including convicted terrorists.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Friday that the Diversity Visa Lottery program—which has resettled over 461,000 foreign nationals in the U.S. since 2012—is being immediately paused after it was revealed that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the Portuguese national accused of deadly shootings at Brown University and MIT, entered the country through the program in 2017.
A Program Under Fire
The Diversity Visa Lottery, established by the Immigration Act of 1990, awards 55,000 green cards annually to applicants from countries with “low U.S. immigration rates”—including nations with known terrorist ties, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
Critics argue the program prioritizes “diversity” over national security, as it does not require skills, education, or family ties to the U.S.
A History of Security Risks
The program has repeatedly allowed dangerous individuals into the U.S., including:
- Ruslan Maratovich Asainov (ISIS terrorist, entered in 1999).
- Sayfullo Saipov (2017 NYC truck attacker, killed 8 people).
- Claudio Manuel Neves Valente (accused in 2025 Brown University/MIT shootings).
“This program has imported nearly half a million migrants every decade—with no vetting beyond random chance,” a DHS official said.
Trump’s Long-Standing Opposition
President Donald Trump has long called for ending the lottery, arguing it undermines national security. After the 2017 NYC attack, Trump urged Congress to eliminate the program, but Democrats blocked the effort, despite Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) leading the charge.
Noem’s Immediate Action
Following the Brown University shooting, Noem ordered USCIS to halt the program: “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the Diversity Visa program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program,” she said in a statement.
What’s Next?
The suspension is temporary, but Noem’s move signals a potential permanent end to the lottery under the Trump administration. Critics argue the program lacks accountability and poses unnecessary risks to public safety.
The Diversity Visa Lottery has long been controversial, with opponents calling it a “random immigration giveaway“ that prioritizes luck over merit or security. Now, with another high-profile case tied to the program, pressure is mounting to shut it down for good.
“The American people deserve an immigration system that puts their safety first—not random chance,” Noem stated. The future of the program now rests on Congress and the White House—but for now, the lottery is on hold.
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