In the wake of the tragic Brown University Shooting, the Trump Administration has officially suspended the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program, a long-standing U.S. immigration pathway often known as the “Green Card Lottery.”
The decision was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, December 19, following the arrest of a man suspected of killing two Brown University students and an M.I.T. professor — a man who, records confirm, entered the U.S. on a diversity visa in 2017 and became a lawful permanent resident the same year.
“The Brown University shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.
In 2017, President Trump fought to end this program, following the devastating NYC truck ramming by an ISIS terrorist, who 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.”
What Is the Diversity Visa Program?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was established to broaden the pool of immigrants to the United States by offering up to 55,000 green cards annually to people from countries with historically low levels of U.S. immigration.
Winners of the lottery are selected at random and can apply for permanent residency without needing a job offer, family sponsor, or extraordinary qualifications. It has long been one of the only immigration channels for individuals without direct ties to the U.S. like so many in this community.
Why the Program Is Being Suspended
The immediate trigger for this action was the Brown University murder case, in which the suspect was confirmed to have received a Green Card from the Diversity Lottery in 2017. However, this isn’t the first time the program has faced scrutiny with President Trump long showing criticism for the the diversity visa system.
The administration argues that the lottery introduces security vulnerabilities due to its random nature and lower initial vetting thresholds compared to employer-based or family-sponsored immigration categories.
What This Means Going Forward for Lottery Entrants and Future Applicants
What we know is that in the very short term, there will be no new Diversity Visa lotteries will be held until further notice. The 2025 Diversity Lottery had already been suspended, and no updates have been issued in some time. This more recent update signals a more formal “pause” to the program,
What we don't know at this stage is what will happen to existing approvals through the program and whether they will be processed, and what might happen to anyone moving through the system.
It’s unclear whether the Administration intends this as a temporary halt or a permanent cancellation, but the administration has made clear its intent to favor immigration routes tied to employment, family, investment, or demonstrable national interest.
What we do know though is that the Green Card Diversity Lottery was created by Congress and Legislation and therefore the Administration has limited powers in shuttering, or modifying the program—meaning that we will very likely see a quick legal action taken against this.
Does This Affect Australians?
Yes. Most Australians visit to the U.S. using work visas like the E-3 visa, but we have seen between 500 and 2,000 Australians move permanently to start their life in the U.S. using the Green Card lottery program every year.
The true impact of this will not be seen for some time though until the courts and Congress have had their input and appeals have taken place to the Administrations current action.
The suspension of the Diversity Visa program is part of a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy — one that increasingly favors tightly controlled, skills-based, and employment-linked migration over open-access models.
While this action is framed in response to recent tragedies, the long-term impact will be felt most by those without existing connections to the U.S., particularly in regions of the world where the DV lottery was the only realistic option.
For those considering a move to the U.S., this is yet another reminder to stay informed, act early, and rely on structured pathways that remain open and viable.
