The U.S. Department of State has confirmed it is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the announcement of a temporary suspension of the Diversity Visa (DV) program.
Responding to NepYork, a State Department spokesperson said, “The horrific incidents this week demonstrate the threat the Diversity Visa program poses to American security and safety, which President Trump has long worked to fix. The Department of State is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to put in place all necessary measures to protect America from this threat.”
The State Department, however, has not provided a clear answer as to whether U.S. embassies will continue or suspend the issuance of Diversity Visas in response to the DHS directive. Likewise, the department offered no comment on whether it will further postpone the opening of the DV-2027 registration period, which has yet to begin.
NepYork sought clarification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the status of individuals who have already been issued a Diversity Immigrant Visa by a U.S. consulate but have not yet entered the United States. Specifically, the inquiry asked whether these visa holders will be denied entry at U.S. ports of entry. CBP declined to answer the question directly, recommending instead that the inquiry be directed to USCIS. NepYork also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for clarification but did not receive a response.
Furthermore, an inquiry was sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding several critical operational questions that remain unanswered following the program’s suspension. The inquiry pressed for details on whether the agency will immediately cease the adjudication of pending Form I-485 applications for DV-2026 selectees currently within the U.S., and if scheduled interviews for these applicants are being canceled or postponed indefinitely.
Beyond domestic applicants, the inquiry raised concerns regarding the status of individuals who have already been issued a Diversity Immigrant Visa by a U.S. consulate but have not yet traveled. It remains unclear whether these individuals will be denied entry by CBP at U.S. ports of entry. Furthermore, the agency was asked to clarify if individuals who successfully obtained Green Cards through the lottery in recent years will now face a “re-review” or potential rescission of their lawful permanent resident status.
While USCIS did not address each specific procedural question individually, the USCIS Office of Public Affairs and External Affairs Directorate directed inquiries to a statement on X (formerly Twitter). The statement reads: “At the direction of President Trump and Secretary Noem, USCIS is immediately suspending its role in the Diversity Visa program to protect Americans from criminal aliens. This dangerous program continues to raise significant security concerns as it can attract the worst of the worst from participating countries. America cannot continue importing terrorists, murderers, and lawbreakers through this program.”
The suspension order was issued Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who directed USCIS to immediately halt the Diversity Immigrant Visa program. The move follows a deadly shooting at Brown University, where the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, reportedly entered the United States through the DV lottery in 2017 and later obtained a Green Card.
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 DV-1 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 DV-1 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.
New York-based immigration attorney Bashu Phulara noted that while the registration for DV-2027 was already delayed, the current situation could push the announcement back even further. Previously, the U.S. State Department had indicated there would be no change to the timeline for DV-2027 winners to begin receiving visas next October.
However, Phulara suggested that while the visa issuance timeline remains unchanged, the registration period is likely to face additional delays. He added that the State Department may still work to complete the registration and results announcement process before next September.
The suspension occurs during a period of significant uncertainty. 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 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.
