URGENT UPDATE: The Trump administration has just announced the suspension of the green card lottery, a move triggered by horrific incidents linked to a lottery recipient. Authorities confirmed that Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old man from Portugal, was behind the recent mass shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island, which left two dead and nine injured.
The tragic events unfolded earlier this week, with Valente also implicated in the murder of Nuno Loureiro, an MIT professor, just two days later. Reports indicate Valente entered the U.S. through the diversity lottery program in 2017 and was subsequently granted a green card.
In response, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on social media, “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.” This decision has raised significant concerns about the future of the immigration process in the U.S.
Adding to the urgency, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick revealed that the U.S. government has generated $1.3 billion in revenue by introducing the new “Trump Gold Cards.” This card provides permanent residency akin to a green card but at a much higher price. Applicants must pay a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee, undergo background checks, and contribute $1 million to the U.S. economy to receive residency “in record time.”
Furthermore, the administration is rolling out a “Trump Platinum Card,” which comes with a $15,000 processing fee and a hefty $5 million contribution requirement. This card allows non-U.S. taxpayers to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days without facing taxes on foreign income.
The green card lottery, in place since 1995, provided up to 55,000 visas annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. It has been especially popular among European applicants. However, this suspension aligns with the administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration policies, particularly towards individuals from Arab and African nations.
Critics argue that this move disproportionately impacts those from Muslim-majority regions, framing it as a national security measure tied to enhanced vetting and screening processes.
As the situation develops, the implications of this suspension could reshape U.S. immigration policy significantly. Observers are watching closely to see how the administration’s latest moves will impact both current and future immigration applicants.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.
