In a decisive move following a tragic shooting at Brown University, President Donald Trump has suspended the US green card lottery program. The decision comes after the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Valente, who entered the United States through the diversity visa program in 2017, was linked to the fatal shootings at both Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Background of the Incident

The incident at Brown University, which occurred on December 13, resulted in the deaths of two students, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and left nine others injured. Valente, who had no current affiliation with the university, was identified as the gunman. The investigation revealed that Valente had also killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro earlier that week. Both Valente and Loureiro had studied at the same university in Portugal in the late 1990s.

Suspension of the Diversity Visa Program

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension of the diversity visa program, citing the need to prevent further tragedies. "This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country," Noem stated on social media. The program, which grants up to 50,000 visas annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the US, has been a point of contention for Trump, who has long opposed it.

Political and Legal Context

The suspension of the program is the latest in a series of immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, often prompted by security concerns. The diversity visa program, which saw nearly 20 million applicants for the 2025 lottery, is designed to promote diversity by offering green cards to individuals from underrepresented countries. Despite the rigorous vetting process, the program has faced criticism for potential security risks.