Balendra Shah, the Mayor of the capital city Kathmandu in Nepal, has publicly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to rescind the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery program, the popular green card lottery, referring to it as a form of “slavery.” In a strongly worded social media post, Shah criticized the U.S. immigration system, arguing that the Green Card Lottery encourages Nepal’s skilled workforce to leave the country, ultimately harming its development.
Since 1995, over 56,000 Nepalis have received green cards through the DV lottery, accounting for over 25% of all Nepali green card recipients in the USA, making Nepalis among the top recipients of DV lottery green cards worldwide.
Addressing Trump directly, Shah wrote in a social media post: “Thank you for making us realize our country is better than yours. We are poor because our people are leaving our country. You are poor because your people cannot build your country; you lazy people need the rest of the world for it. Please stop your lust (DV) slavery as well; we shall get our gems back. Ban the rest of the world from your country, and let the world grow.”
Balendra Shah, also known as Balen Shah, is the 15th mayor of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. He is notable for being the first independent candidate elected to this position. A Nepali rapper, music composer, poet, and structural engineer, Balen has transitioned into politics.
Shah’s comment came after the cancellation of two U.S. foreign aid initiatives in Nepal: a $20 million program for “fiscal federalism” and a $19 million project for “biodiversity conservation.” Trump called the “fiscal federalism” project a “fraud.” The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had announced the cancellation of various foreign aid allocations including those two initiatives in Nepal.
President Trump’s Executive Order has also led to the temporary suspension of $550 million in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding for Nepal, impacting crucial infrastructure and energy projects under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal.
The Diversity Visa program has been a crucial pathway for Nepali immigrants seeking opportunities in the United States. Since 1995, a total of 56,124 Nepalis have received green cards through the DV lottery, more than 25% of the total Nepali green card recipients in the USA, underscoring its significance for Nepal.
The number of Nepalis participating in the program has grown steadily over the years, with more than 1 million Nepalis participating annually in recent years. Although participation temporarily declined during the years when a passport was required (2019-2021), the program still attracted significant numbers of applicants. For example, in DV 2021, 688,502 Nepalis participated, including 421,765 primary applicants and 266,737 family members. Similarly, 1,026,423 Nepalis participated in DV 2020, and 1,092,035 in DV 2019.
Participation in the DV lottery has been consistently high over the years, with figures such as 1,187,350 participants in DV 2018 and 1,136,622 in DV 2017. Even in earlier years, the numbers were substantial. For instance, in DV 2015, 892,961 Nepalis participated, including 545,825 primary applicants and 347,136 family members. These statistics highlight the growing reliance of Nepalis on the DV lottery as a pathway to the United States.
The number of green cards issued to Nepalis through the DV lottery has also seen a notable increase. In the early years of the program, only a small number of green cards were granted to Nepali applicants, with 74 green cards issued in 1995.
However, by 2003, the number had risen to 1,754, and it peaked at 3,377 in 2013. From 2014 to 2018, more than 3,000 green cards were issued annually, with the highest being 3,504 in 2014. While the pandemic caused a temporary decline in numbers, with only 1,372 green cards issued in 2021, the program rebounded with 3,431 green cards issued in 2024.
Over 56,000 Nepalis have obtained green cards through the DV Lottery program from 1995 to 2024. Source: U.S. Department of State. In total, 56,124 Nepalis have received green cards through the DV lottery between 1995 and 2024.
Can Trump End the DV Lottery via Executive Order?
No, Donald Trump cannot end the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program through an executive order. The DV lottery is established by the Immigration and Nationality Act, meaning its termination or modification can only be done through legislation passed by Congress. While the president can influence immigration policy and issue executive orders to shape the implementation of laws, he cannot abolish the program without Congressional action.
However, Representative Mike Collins has reintroduced the Security and Fairness Enhancement (SAFE) for America Act, a bill aimed at ending the DV lottery, which currently grants 55,000 green cards annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates.
During his first presidency, Trump was a vocal critic of the DV lottery, calling it “not nice” and “not good,” and claiming it allowed the “wrong people” to enter the U.S. In November 2017, he urged Congress to eliminate the program, arguing that it posed national security risks.
Trump also supported the RAISE Act, introduced by Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue, which sought to end the DV lottery and restructure U.S. immigration policy to prioritize merit-based criteria. Despite Trump’s backing, the RAISE Act failed to gain enough support in Congress and did not pass. Other legislative efforts to eliminate the DV lottery also fell short.
In addition to pushing for legislative change, Trump’s first administration introduced measures to limit access to the DV lottery. One notable policy was the 2019 “passport rule,” which required applicants to have a valid passport when applying. This rule significantly reduced participation but was eventually overturned by the courts. Despite these challenges, the DV lottery has continued to operate as required by law.
Susan Shrestha
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