Trump suspends federal Diversity Visa lottery
President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of the Diversity Visa (green card lottery) program, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem directed USCIS to pause processing, after authorities said the suspected Brown University/MIT shooter entered the U.S. via the program in 2017. The move, announced Thursday, halts new DV processing nationwide and is likely to face legal challenges because the lottery was created by Congress, affecting prospective immigrants and families in the Twin Cities.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said she directed USCIS to pause the DV1 program at the president’s direction
- Suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the U.S. on a Diversity Visa in 2017; officials say he died by suicide during the manhunt
- The program provides up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually; nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 lottery
📊 Relevant Data
Over recent years, African selectees accounted for about 40–43% of Diversity Visa selectees, while European selectees ranged around 30–35%.
DV-2026 Diversity Visa Lottery: Global Trends, Regional Insights — OnlineVisas
In Texas from 2012 to 2018, native-born US citizens were over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes compared to undocumented immigrants, and legal immigrants had lower rates than native-born citizens for most violent crimes.
In Texas from 2012 to 2018, native-born US citizens were over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes compared to undocumented immigrants, with legal immigrants also having lower rates than native-born citizens.
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