Trump halts Diversity Visa Lottery following revelations that the Brown University and MIT shooter exploited flawed program to enter U.S.
By bellecarter // 2025-12-22
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  • The Trump administration suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery Program following revelations that the shooter responsible for the Brown University and MIT killings entered the U.S. through the program.
  • The administration argues the program lacks sufficient vetting, citing past cases where lottery recipients committed violent acts, including a 2017 ISIS-inspired attack in NYC.
  • Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the Portuguese national behind the shootings, entered the U.S. in 2017 via the lottery system before killing two students and a professor.
  • The suspension aligns with Trump's push for stricter immigration policies, including halting asylum decisions and deporting those deemed security threats.
  • Supporters defend the program for providing opportunities to underrepresented groups, while critics argue random selection poses unacceptable risks.
The Trump administration suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery Program on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced, after confirming that the gunman responsible for the Brown University shooting and the murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor entered the U.S. through the program. The decision marks the latest move in President Donald Trump's long-standing campaign to restrict immigration pathways he deems security risks. The suspension follows revelations that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the 48-year-old Portuguese national who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor before taking his own life, was admitted to the U.S. in 2017 through the lottery system. The Diversity Visa Lottery, established in 1990, awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S., according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. Winners are selected randomly but must meet basic education or work experience requirements. Critics argue that the program lacks sufficient vetting, pointing to past cases where lottery recipients committed violent acts. In 2017, an ISIS-inspired terrorist who entered through the program killed eight people in a New York City truck attack. Trump unsuccessfully pushed to terminate the program afterward, calling it a "disaster" that brings in "the worst people." "This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country," Noem said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). "At President Trump's direction, I am immediately directing USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program."

The shooter's path to the United States

Valente, whose last known address was in Miami, Florida, was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility on Dec. 18 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities linked him to the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, where he killed two students and wounded nine others, as well as the fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later. Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that Valente briefly attended the school in 2000-2001 before withdrawing. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive. The suspension aligns with Trump's broader push to tighten immigration policies. Last month, USCIS halted asylum decisions after an Afghan national—admitted through a Biden-era resettlement program—allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Trump has also called for stripping federal benefits from noncitizens, denaturalizing immigrants deemed security threats and deporting those considered "incompatible with Western civilization." Supporters of the Diversity Visa Program argue that it provides opportunities for underrepresented groups and that recipients still undergo rigorous screening. But the administration contends random selection poses unacceptable risks. As investigations continue, the suspension signals a shift toward prioritizing security over accessibility—a policy shaped by tragedy and Trump's unwavering stance on immigration. The Trump administration's decision to halt the Diversity Visa Lottery underscores its focus on national security over immigration expansion. With Valente's case as the latest justification, the move reignites debate over vetting processes and America's immigration priorities. Whether the program resumes—or faces permanent elimination—may hinge on the outcome of the 2024 election and the enduring political battle over who deserves entry into the United States. Watch the video below that talks about the criminal history of the illegal immigrant accused of the Charlotte light rail stabbing. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com X.com AlJazeera.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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