Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery After Brown University and MIT Shootings

The Trump administration has suspended the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, halting a program that issues thousands of green cards each year for people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

The announcement comes after law enforcement identified the suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings as Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese citizen who became a permanent resident in 2017. Valente was found dead on Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she paused the program at President Trump’s direction. “This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” Noem wrote on X. She also claimed Valente “was issued a green card through the DV1 program,” although news reports say he first entered the United States on a student visa in 2000.

What the Diversity Visa Program Is

Created by Congress in the 1990s, the Diversity Visa Lottery distributes up to 50,000 green cards each year to people from countries with historically low immigration to the U.S. Applicants must meet education or work experience requirements, submit to background checks, and complete an interview before receiving a visa.

Interest in the program is high. Nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 lottery, and more than 131,000 were selected when including eligible spouses and children.

Questions About DHS Authority

It’s unclear what legal authority DHS is using to pause the program. Most diversity visas are issued by the State Department, not USCIS, though USCIS handles a small number of DV-based green card applications for people already inside the United States. A full suspension would typically require action from Congress or a presidential proclamation.

This is the second time the Trump administration has halted the program. It was previously suspended in 2020 as part of wider restrictions on legal immigration during the pandemic. The Biden administration restarted the program in 2021.

What Green Card Lottery Applicants Can Do Now

A pause creates immediate uncertainty for people who were recently selected or who are preparing to apply in the next lottery round. Here's what you can do now:

• If you were selected in a previous lottery: Gather required documents and monitor updates from the State Department and USCIS, as interview scheduling may slow.

• If you were planning to apply: The next application window may be delayed. Review DV eligibility rules so you’re ready when it reopens.

• If you are adjusting status inside the U.S.: Watch for new USCIS guidance. Keep your immigration history, civil documents, and evidence of eligibility organized.

• Avoid international travel if you have a pending DV-based green card application until DHS explains how the pause will be enforced.

The Situation Is Developing

The administration has not said how long the suspension will last or whether it plans to propose permanent changes. Boundless will continue monitoring updates from DHS and the State Department.

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