US Suspends Green Card Lottery Following Brown University Shooting
In the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Brown University, President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the US diversity visa lottery program. This decision follows the revelation that the suspect in the attack, who killed two students and injured nine others, entered the US through the Diversity Visa (DV1) lottery in 2017.
Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, was granted a green card after winning the lottery, which provides up to 50,000 visas annually to citizens from countries with low immigration rates to the US. Valente was found dead on Thursday in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, after an intense multi-state manhunt. Police suspect he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting at Brown University occurred on December 13, 2023, during final exams. Two students—19-year-old Ella Cook, from Alabama, and 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman from Uzbekistan—were killed in the attack. Nine others were injured, though none of their injuries are considered life-threatening.
Tensions Over the Diversity Visa Program
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, under Trump’s direction, announced the suspension of the Diversity Visa program, citing safety concerns. Noem argued that the program, which has been criticized by some as a security risk, could potentially allow individuals with harmful intentions to enter the US. She noted that President Trump had previously sought to end the program in 2017, following a deadly truck-ramming attack in New York City. The attacker, Sayfullo Saipov, a national from Uzbekistan, entered the US through the same DV1 lottery, and was later convicted of the attack.
Noem’s remarks come just hours after Valente’s death was confirmed. Authorities have said video footage and public tips helped lead them to Valente, linking him to both the Brown University shooting and the earlier killing of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro. Loureiro, 47, was found dead in his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, just two days before the Brown shooting. Police believe both incidents were connected, as Valente and Loureiro had attended the same university in Portugal during the late 1990s.
A Link Between the Attacks
The link between the two shootings became clear when Valente’s car was identified at both crime scenes. Authorities believe Valente may have been targeting Loureiro due to personal reasons, though they have not disclosed a clear motive for the attacks.
Both the Brown University and MIT shootings have left communities in shock. Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that Valente had been enrolled at the prestigious university in the early 2000s, but had no current affiliation with the school. At the time of the shooting, Valente had been working toward a PhD in physics, though he had not been involved in any university activities in recent years.
The Ongoing Investigation
The shooting at Brown University occurred as students were preparing for their final exams, adding a chilling layer to the tragedy. In addition to the two fatalities, nine others were injured, though their injuries were not life-threatening. Police are still working to understand the full extent of Valente’s actions and whether there are other potential victims or motivations behind the attacks.
The decision to pause the Diversity Visa lottery program has sparked a wave of reactions. Supporters of the program argue that it provides valuable opportunities for people from underrepresented nations to immigrate to the US, while critics claim that it poses a security risk. With the DV1 program now suspended, many are watching closely to see whether the move will lead to permanent changes in US immigration policy.
Looking Forward
As authorities continue their investigation into the tragic events at Brown University and the death of Professor Loureiro, the suspension of the Diversity Visa program remains a focal point of debate. Critics argue that it unfairly penalizes many deserving applicants based on the actions of a few, while others believe it’s a necessary step to enhance security. The next steps in both the investigation and the future of the DV1 lottery will likely shape the US immigration policy for years to come.