US President Donald Trump has suspended the green card lottery programme after deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The decision follows reports that the suspect involved had entered the US through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme.
The shootings shocked the country. Two students were killed at Brown University in Rhode Island, and an MIT professor was shot dead in a separate attack days later. After a large police search across several states, the suspect was found dead, bringing the investigation to an end.
US officials said the suspect was a citizen of Portugal who first came to the United States on a student visa. He later received permanent residency through the green card lottery. This discovery prompted the Trump administration to act quickly.
President Trump said the suspect “should never have been allowed into the country” and blamed the lottery system for allowing what he called random and unsafe immigration. He has ordered an immediate halt to the programme while the government reviews legal immigration policies.
The green card lottery allows people from countries with low levels of immigration to the US to apply for permanent residency. Each year, up to 50,000 visas are given out through a random selection process. Applicants are required to pass background checks and interviews before approval.
Trump has long criticised the programme, arguing that immigration should be based on skills, merit, and national interest rather than chance. He has repeatedly said the lottery system poses security risks and does not serve the country’s needs.
Supporters of the programme say it promotes diversity and provides a legal pathway for people to migrate to the US. They argue that millions of immigrants have entered safely through the lottery over the years.
However, immigration groups and opposition leaders have criticised Trump’s decision, saying it unfairly targets legal immigrants and uses a tragic incident to justify tough policies. They warn that suspending the programme could face legal challenges.
The decision is expected to face legal and political challenges, but it underscores Trump’s tough stance on immigration as public safety and border control remain central themes of his presidency.
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