Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery Following Brown University Shootings

Fri Dec 19 2025 15:12:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Trump announced the suspension of the green card lottery program after an individual associated with a recent shooting tragedy was granted residency through it, prompting discussions on immigration policy reforms.

Amid the aftermath of the Brown University and MIT shootings, President Trump has decided to suspend the green card lottery program, citing concerns over the admission practices that allowed the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, to enter the U.S. This decision has raised questions about the future of immigration policies and potential legal challenges against the suspension. Trump has a long-standing opposition to the diversity visa lottery, which provides a pathway for individuals from underrepresented countries to gain residency in the U.S.

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has suspended the green card lottery program that has been in place to provide residency options for individuals from countries with low representation in the U.S. This decision follows the recent tragic shootings at Brown University, allegedly perpetrated by Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who had obtained lawful permanent residence through the lottery program in 2017.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on social media, declaring that such an individual should never have been allowed in our country. Neves Valente was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the shootings which left two students dead and several injured.

The green card lottery allows up to 50,000 visas to be issued annually through a random draw, aimed at increasing diversity among immigrants. Critics of the program have long argued that it can bypass more stringent vetting processes.

Currently, nearly 20 million people had applied for the 2025 visa lottery, yet only about 131,000 individuals were selected, including their spouses. However, only 38 spots were awarded to Portuguese citizens.

This suspension is likely to prompt legal challenges considering the program's enshrinement in law. Trump's administration has a history of attempting to limit immigration pathways, a trend that gained momentum after various tragedies were linked to immigration policy.

In the broader context, Trump continues to push against legal immigration avenues, indicating an aggressive stance reflected in recent Supreme Court considerations regarding birthright citizenship.