WASHINGTON, D.C. December 19, 2025 – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Friday that she has directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately pause the Diversity Visa Lottery program (DV-1), citing national security concerns in the wake of a recent shooting at Brown University.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary Noem revealed that the suspected shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, entered the United States in 2017 through the diversity visa program and subsequently obtained a green card. “This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” Noem wrote, describing the program as “disastrous.”
Noem referenced a 2017 terrorist attack in New York City, where an ISIS-inspired individual who entered via the same program killed eight people in a truck ramming incident. She noted that then-President Donald Trump had fought to end the lottery program at the time, arguing it posed unacceptable risks.
“At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program,” Noem stated.
The diversity visa lottery, established under the Immigration Act of 1990, annually allocates up to 50,000 immigrant visas to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Critics, including many Republicans, have long argued that the program prioritizes diversity over merit-based criteria and lacks sufficient vetting mechanisms.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration policies in President Trump’s second term, with the administration emphasizing stricter border security and reforms to legal immigration pathways.
Details about the Brown University shooting remain limited, but the incident has reignited debates over the diversity visa program. Supporters of the lottery argue it promotes cultural diversity and provides opportunities for underrepresented nations.
The pause is expected to halt new applications and processing under the program until further review. It is unclear how long the suspension will last or whether it will lead to permanent termination.
White House officials have not yet commented on potential broader immigration reforms tied to this action.
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