Archive · 19 Dec 2025
Trump Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery After Shootings
President Donald Trump has suspended a program that gives green cards to people from countries with low immigration to the U.S. This decision came after a man named Claudio Neves Valente, who entered the U.S. through this program, was suspected of shooting people at Brown University and killing an MIT professor.
Valente was found dead in a storage unit.
The program, which gives up to 50,000 green cards a year, has been criticized by Trump for being a security risk.
Many people apply for these visas, but only a few are chosen.
The winners go through a check before they can come to the U.S. Some people think the program is good because it helps people from different countries, but others think it's not safe.
A Reddit user's tip helped the police find the suspect.
President Donald Trump suspended the diversity visa lottery program after the Brown University and MIT shootings.
Suspect Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, entered the U.S. through the diversity visa program in 2017.
Valente is suspected of killing two students at Brown University, wounding nine others, and murdering an MIT professor.
The diversity visa program offers up to 50,000 green cards annually to people from underrepresented countries.
Nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 visa lottery, with 131,000 selected, including spouses.
- Who
- Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, Portuguese national and former Brown University graduate student
- What
- Shooting at Brown University and murder of an MIT professor, followed by the suspension of the diversity visa lottery program
- When
- Shootings occurred on December 15, 2025; program suspension announced on December 19, 2025
- Where
- Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island; MIT professor's home in Brookline, Massachusetts; storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire
- Why
- Trump administration cited the suspect's entry through the diversity visa program as a reason for suspension
- Suspect
- Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, Portuguese national
- Incidents
- Brown University shooting (2 killed, 9 wounded), MIT professor murder
- Visa Program
- Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (up to 50,000 green cards annually)
- Applications
- Nearly 20 million for 2025 lottery, 131,000 selected (including spouses)
- Portuguese Slots
- 38 slots won by Portuguese citizens
- Vetting Process
- Lottery winners undergo interviews and same vetting as other green-card applicants
- Trump's Stance
- Long opposed the diversity visa lottery, used tragedy to advance immigration policy goals
- Reddit Tip
- Anonymous Reddit post led authorities to the suspect
- Suspect's Background
- Former Brown University graduate student, permanent U.S. resident since 2017
Sources
Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery Program That Let Brown University, MIT Shootings Suspect Into US
Who was Claudio Valente, Brown University shooting suspect who also killed MIT professor?
US suspends Green Card Lottery – Should Indians be worried?
Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery After Brown University, MIT Shootings
Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery Program After Brown University, MIT Shootings
Donald Trump suspends green card lottery programme after Brown University and MIT shootings - Telegraph India
Trump Halts US Green Card Lottery After Brown University Shooting Case
Trump suspends green card lottery program after shootings
Green Card program is not suspended; it is the Diversity Lottery Immigrant Visa program that faces suspension
Gunman in Brown University shooting found dead, linked to MIT killing
US govt suspends 'disastrous' green card lottery program: What does it mean for Indian applicants?
‘Police need to look into a grey Nissan’: How a Reddit post helped crack Brown shooting case
Trump suspends Green Card lottery after Brown University and MIT shootings suspect found to be immigrant
Why Trump's US Green Card Lottery Ban Will Not Hurt Indians
Sole suspect in Brown, MIT shootings found dead