In brief
The US government has suspended the green card lottery scheme after a mass shooting at Brown University resulted in the deaths of two students. The gunman, identified as Claudio Neves Valente, entered the country through the diversity visa program and was linked to another murder. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem underscores the need for this pause to prevent further incidents.
President Donald Trump has suspended the US green card lottery scheme in the wake of a mass shooting at Brown University last week, which resulted in the deaths of two students. The alleged shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, had entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program in 2017 and was granted a green card.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension, stating it was necessary to 'ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous programme.' Authorities believe Valente, also connected to the death of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, posed a significant threat after committing these violent crimes.The diversity visa program provided 50,000 visas per year through a random selection from low-immigration countries to the US. Valente's case marks a concerning linkage to past violent incidents, including the infamous 2017 New York City attack carried out by another DV1 visa holder.This pause comes as a response to increased scrutiny surrounding immigration policies and public safety, reigniting debates over the effectiveness of the diversity visa program.Last week, Valente was found deceased in a New Hampshire storage facility from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, concluding a six-day manhunt following the tragic events at Brown University on December 13, where two students were killed and several others injured during final examinations.
