by Effective immediately, the Department of State has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. The Department of State is committed to ensuring that its visa process upholds the highest standards for U.S. national security and public safety. This action is being taken in light of concerns raised by the shooting at Brown University and killing of an MIT professor suspected to have been committed by an individual admitted to the United States through the DV program.
The individual responsible for the Brown University shooting, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, reportedly entered the United States through the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program (DV-1).
At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, Homeland Security leadership has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately pause the DV-1 program while a comprehensive review is conducted.
The stated objective is to reassess screening and eligibility standards to prevent future threats to public safety. At this time, there is no official timeline for how long the program will remain paused.
It is important to note that ending the Diversity Visa Program permanently requires an act of Congress. Such legislation would need to secure 60 votes in the U.S. Senate to pass.
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If the program is reinstated—and not fully terminated by Congress—it is expected to resume with significant changes, particularly in:
• Applicant eligibility requirements
• Security and background screening
• Visa issuance and vetting procedures
Further updates will be shared as official information becomes available.
