A shadow fell over the campuses of Brown University and MIT as news broke of a tragic shooting spree. The alleged perpetrator, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, left a trail of devastation before ending his own life after a relentless manhunt.
The revelation that Valente entered the United States through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program – often called the “Green Card Lottery” – ignited a firestorm of controversy. He initially arrived on a student visa in 2000, but later secured permanent residency through the lottery system, a path now under intense scrutiny.
In a swift and decisive response, the President ordered an immediate suspension of the program. The decision came after officials confirmed Valente’s legal entry in 2017, a fact that fueled calls for a complete overhaul of the visa process.
The Secretary of Homeland Security publicly stated that someone like Valente should never have been permitted entry. This sentiment echoed a previous attempt in 2017 to dismantle the program, following a deadly terrorist attack in New York City carried out by an individual who also utilized the diversity visa pathway.
The Diversity Visa program, established by Congress, annually awards up to 50,000 green cards through a lottery system. It prioritizes applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, offering a chance at a new life to individuals from diverse corners of the globe, particularly in Africa.
The 2025 lottery alone drew nearly 20 million applications, with over 131,000 individuals ultimately selected for consideration. While Portugal had a limited number of winning slots – just 38 – the program’s broad reach highlights the potential for vulnerabilities in the vetting process.
Winners of the lottery are not automatically granted entry. They must still navigate rigorous interviews at U.S. consulates and meet the same stringent requirements as all other green card applicants. However, the recent tragedy has raised questions about the adequacy of these safeguards.
This suspension isn’t an isolated event. It represents a continuation of a long-held opposition to the diversity visa lottery, and a broader pattern of policy shifts aimed at restricting both legal and illegal immigration. Previous incidents have been used to justify increasingly restrictive measures.
The President has consistently challenged established immigration laws, even those enshrined in the Constitution. A recent Supreme Court decision to hear a challenge to birthright citizenship underscores a determined effort to redefine the very foundations of American immigration policy.
The suspension of the Diversity Visa program is almost certain to face legal challenges, igniting a debate over national security, immigration policy, and the fundamental principles of opportunity and access that have long defined the American experience.
