- US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the programme was paused on presidential instruction
- Authorities believe Valente was responsible for the killing of two students at Brown University during an attack on the institution’s engineering complex
- Officials stated that the suspension would remain in effect while a broader security review is conducted
The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the United States Diversity Visa Lottery Programme following a deadly shooting incident at Brown University.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the directive came after revelations that the suspect, a Portuguese national identified as Claudio Neves Valente, entered the US through the green card lottery scheme in 2017 before later obtaining permanent residency.
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US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the programme was paused on presidential instruction, citing security concerns and the need to reassess its impact on national safety.
Authorities believe Valente was responsible for the killing of two students at Brown University during an attack on the institution’s engineering complex, as well as the earlier death of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in a separate incident.
The suspect was later found dead in a storage facility in New Hampshire, with investigators suggesting the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a multi-state manhunt.
The Diversity Visa Programme, which allocates up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually through random selection, has faced renewed scrutiny, particularly after previous attacks involving beneficiaries of the scheme.
Officials stated that the suspension would remain in effect while a broader security review is conducted to determine the programme’s future.
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