US Suspends Green Card Lottery Program
The United States government has announced the suspension of the Diversity Immigrant Visa program (commonly known as the green card lottery), pausing the issuance and processing of new visas under the scheme. The decision was directed by President Donald Trump and announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as part of broader changes to U.S. immigration policy.
Reason for Suspension
Officials said the suspension follows recent mass shootings in the northeastern United States, including incidents at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in which a suspect who had entered the U.S. through the Diversity Visa program was involved. The administration linked the suspect’s entry route to concerns about the program’s vetting process and said the programme could pose risks to national security.
What the Program Was
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program was established by Congress to provide up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. It aimed to diversify the immigrant population by random lottery selection, followed by eligibility screening and interviews for applicants who won a place in the lottery.
Implications of the Move
The suspension takes effect immediately, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halting processing of Diversity Visa applications and selections. The White House said the pause will remain in place while officials review the operation and security implications of the programme. The move is likely to face legal and political challenges, as the Diversity Visa programme is established in U.S. immigration law and administered annually by the Department of State.
