Trump Suspends Green Card Lottery After US Campus Shootings, Raising Fresh Visa Worries For Indians

The Trump administration has taken a hardline decision to suspend the Diversity Visa, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery Program. The move follows recent shootings at Brown University and MIT that shook the United States. According to officials, the main suspect in the attacks was allegedly a beneficiary of the Diversity Visa Program. The administration says national security concerns made the suspension unavoidable. This marks another major shift in America’s immigration approach under Trump’s leadership.

What Happened At Brown University And MIT?

The shootings left two students dead at Brown University and nine others injured. In a separate incident, an MIT professor was also killed. Authorities identified the primary suspect as 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national. Officials later confirmed that Valente died by suicide after the attacks. The incidents triggered nationwide outrage and renewed debate over immigration screening and campus security.

How Is The Green Card Program Linked To The Case?

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the suspect had obtained permanent residency through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Following directives from Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security instructed US Citizenship and Immigration Services to suspend the program immediately. Noem said the suspect “should never have been allowed entry into the United States,” calling the incident deeply disturbing.

Who Was Claudio Neves Valente?

Valente first arrived in the US in 2000 on a student visa to attend Brown University. In 2017, he was granted a Diversity Immigrant Visa, giving him legal permanent resident status. Authorities have acknowledged that his whereabouts between 2001 and 2017 remain unclear. This gap has become a focal point in the administration’s argument that the lottery system lacks sufficient vetting mechanisms.

What Is The Green Card Lottery Program?

The Diversity Visa Program issues up to 50,000 green cards annually through a random lottery system. It is designed for applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the US, many of them in Africa. In 2025 alone, nearly 20 million people applied worldwide. Including family members, around 1,31,000 individuals were selected for further processing and interviews at US embassies.

How Will Indians Be Affected?

While India is not a primary beneficiary under the Diversity Visa Program, a significant number of Indians apply every year. Many Indian families rely on this route as an alternative to long employment-based green card backlogs. With the program now suspended, uncertainty has grown among Indian applicants who were preparing for interviews or future applications. Immigration experts say the decision will further narrow legal pathways to permanent residency.

What Does This Signal About US Immigration Policy?

The suspension reinforces Trump’s long-standing stance on tightening immigration controls. From travel bans to stricter visa scrutiny, the administration has consistently emphasized security over expansion. The Green Card Lottery freeze signals that immigration reforms may become even more restrictive in the coming months. For aspiring immigrants, especially from countries like India, the path to the American Dream may now become longer and more uncertain.