Freetown, 19th December 2025- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the immediate suspension of the Diversity Immigrant Visa program (DV1), following revelations that the suspect in the Brown University shooting entered the country through the lottery system in 2017.
Officials confirmed that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the alleged gunman, was granted permanent residency under the DV1 program after winning the lottery eight years ago. His case has reignited longstanding concerns about the security risks associated with the initiative, which admits up to 50,000 immigrants annually from countries with historically low migration rates to the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the decision was taken at the direction of President Donald Trump.
“This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” Secretary Noem declared on X “In 2017, President Trump fought to end this program, following the devastating New York City truck ramming by an ISIS terrorist who also entered under the DV1 program and murdered eight people. 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.”
The DV Lottery has long been a point of contention in U.S. immigration debates. Critics argue that the random selection process poses national security risks, while supporters say it diversifies the immigrant pool and provides opportunities for applicants from underrepresented regions.
The suspension marks a significant policy shift, cutting off one of the few legal pathways available to thousands of prospective immigrants worldwide. Immigration advocates are expected to challenge the move, while administration officials insist the pause is necessary to protect public safety.
