Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately pause the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV1).
The directive follows the recent shooting at Brown University. According to a statement released by the Secretary on social media, the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, entered the United States through the diversity lottery program in 2017 and was subsequently granted a green card.
In her announcement, Secretary Noem characterized the program as “disastrous” and a threat to American safety. She linked the current incident to past tragedies, specifically referencing the 2017 New York City truck attack carried out by an individual who also entered the country via a DV1 visa.
“This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” Noem stated, referring to Valente. “I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed.”
The Secretary noted that this move is being made at the direction of President Trump, echoing the administration’s long-standing opposition to the lottery-based system. During his first term, President Trump frequently advocated for the elimination of the program in favor of a merit-based immigration system.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, established by the Immigration Act of 1990, makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The suspension occurs during a period of significant uncertainty for the program. The DV-2027 Green Card Lottery, which traditionally opens for registration in early October, has already been delayed by nearly two months.
On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) officially announced a postponement of the DV-2027 cycle. While the Department confirmed it is implementing “certain changes” to the entry process, it has yet to announce a formal start date for registration.
It remains unclear how Secretary Noem’s specific directive to USCIS will interact with the State Department’s management of the lottery. While USCIS processes a small number of green cards for lottery winners already in the U.S., the State Department oversees the vast majority of international applications.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
