Following recent tragic events involving gun violence, President Donald Trump has taken decisive action regarding the U.S. green card lottery program. On December 11, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension of the diversity visa lottery. This decision comes after the suspect in the shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was confirmed to have participated in the program.
Suspension of the Green Card Lottery
The decision to halt the lottery, initiated by Trump, has significant implications for immigration policy. The diversity visa program provides 50,000 green cards annually through a lottery system aimed at underrepresented countries. However, in light of recent events, Noem emphasized the need for stricter immigration measures, stating that “this heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.”
Details of the Incident
- Suspected Shooter: Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national.
- Incident Locations: Brown University and MIT.
- Causalities: Two students killed and nine others injured at Brown University; an MIT professor was also killed.
- Fatal Outcome: Neves Valente was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Background of the Suspect
Claudio Neves Valente had a complex immigration history. He initially entered the United States on a student visa in 2000. In 2017, he was granted a diversity immigrant visa, which allowed him to obtain legal permanent residency. However, gaps in his immigration timeline remain unclear, particularly the period between his leave of absence from Brown in 2001 and his visa acquisition in 2017.
Widespread Application to the Lottery
The diversity visa lottery saw nearly 20 million applicants in 2025, with over 131,000 selections made—including spouses. Yet, only a small number of Portuguese citizens, specifically 38, secured a spot in the lottery.
Reactions and Future Implications
Trump’s administration has historically opposed the diversity visa lottery, viewing it as a flawed mechanism for immigration. The decision to suspend the program follows other significant immigration policy changes, which were also propelled by incidents of violence. Legal challenges to this suspension are anticipated, given the program’s congressional endorsement.
As the national conversation on immigration continues, the implications of this decision extend beyond law, touching upon the fabric of immigration policy in the United States.
