UPDATE: The Trump administration has just suspended the green card lottery in a shocking response to recent violent incidents linked to an immigrant. Authorities confirmed that Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old man from Portugal, was responsible for a mass shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island that left two dead and nine injured.
Late Thursday, law enforcement revealed that Valente, who entered the US via the diversity visa program in 2017, went on to kill Nuno Loureiro, an MIT professor, just days after the university attack.
“At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program,”
stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media.
The abrupt termination of the Diversity Visa (DV1) lottery raises urgent questions about immigration policy and public safety. This program, established in 1995, has allowed up to 55,000 visas annually for individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the US, mostly benefiting Europeans.
In a surprising twist, the suspension coincides with the US government’s push to monetize immigration. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the administration generated $1.3 billion in just a few days through the sale of the new Trump Gold Card, which offers a pathway to permanent residency at a significantly higher cost.
The Trump Gold Card requires a $15,000 processing fee and a $1 million contribution to the US, effectively creating an expedited route to residency. Additionally, the upcoming Trump Platinum Card will demand a $15,000 fee and a staggering $5 million contribution, allowing non-US taxpayers to stay for up to 270 days without incurring US taxes on foreign income.
Critics argue that these changes divert attention from the real issues surrounding immigration and safety. The green card lottery, widely favored by foreign nationals, has now been halted amidst a backdrop of expanded immigration bans affecting countries in the Arab world and Africa, which have already faced significant restrictions.
The implications of this decision resonate beyond just policy change; they affect countless individuals seeking a fresh start in the US. The lottery’s suspension represents a shift towards a more transactional immigration system, which may alienate those who once saw the US as a land of opportunity.
As the nation grapples with these developments, all eyes will be on the administration’s next moves regarding immigration policy and public safety. Will this change lead to a broader reevaluation of the US’s approach to newcomers? The unfolding story continues to develop, and its impact will be felt far and wide.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation evolves.
