Trump means business.
President Donald Trump took decisive action Thursday to suspend the federal green-card lottery, reigniting debate over legal immigration and national security following deadly shootings tied to the program.
Federal authorities confirmed that the suspect in recent fatal attacks connected to Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology entered the United States through the diversity visa lottery, a long-criticized immigration pathway that selects applicants at random.
What Is the Green Card Lottery?
The diversity visa program makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each year to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S. Applicants are chosen randomly and may then apply for permanent residency if they meet baseline eligibility standards.
Critics have long argued the system prioritizes chance over vetting, while supporters claim it expands legal immigration access.
Trump Administration Cites National Security Risks
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the suspension was ordered directly by President Trump, citing repeated failures of the program to protect Americans.
She referenced the 2017 New York City truck attack, in which an ISIS-inspired terrorist also entered the country through the same visa category before killing eight people.
According to Noem, the administration moved quickly to halt further admissions under the program while federal agencies reassess its risks.
Legal Authority Still Unclear
The green-card lottery was created by Congress, raising questions about whether the president has unilateral authority to suspend it. Legal analysts say court challenges are possible, though national security concerns often carry significant weight in immigration cases.
For now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has been directed to pause processing.
Immigration Groups Push Back
Immigration advocacy organizations condemned the move, arguing it unfairly affects tens of thousands of lawful applicants.
World Relief president Myal Greene said in a statement that the decision punishes people who followed the rules and had no connection to the violence.
The administration, however, maintains that safeguarding American lives must take precedence over maintaining lottery-based immigration programs.
Suspect Found Dead as Investigation Continues
Authorities later located the suspect deceased inside a storage facility in New Hampshire after receiving a tip about his whereabouts.
The Brown University shooting claimed two lives. Days later, an MIT professor was also killed. The FBI previously stated it did not believe the two cases were connected, though both incidents intensified scrutiny of immigration screening processes.
Part of a Broader Immigration Crackdown
The green-card lottery suspension follows other recent immigration restrictions implemented after violent incidents.
After an Afghan national was arrested in connection with the murder of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., the administration froze asylum processing for applicants from multiple high-risk countries.
The White House also halted visa processing for Afghanistan entirely, effectively ending relocation pathways for individuals who assisted U.S. forces during the war.
Stricter Standards for Citizenship and Asylum
Earlier this year, USCIS announced tighter screening requirements for asylum seekers and citizenship applicants.
Officers are now instructed to conduct more comprehensive “good moral character” reviews, weighing not only criminal records but also an applicant’s standing within their community.
Supporters say the changes reflect common-sense reforms aimed at restoring integrity to the immigration system, while critics warn they could significantly reduce legal immigration levels.