Administration Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery Program Following Security Review
Summary
- On December 19, 2025, the Trump administration announced an immediate suspension of the Diversity Visa (DV) Program, citing national security concerns and the need for a comprehensive vetting review.
- The decision followed the identification of a suspect in fatal shootings at Brown University and MIT as a foreign national who reportedly obtained permanent residency through the lottery system in 2017.
- S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been directed to place a hold on all pending adjustment of status applications for lottery selectees currently in the United States.
- The suspension creates significant uncertainty for the approximately 131,000 individuals selected in the 2025 lottery cycle, as consular interviews and visa issuances are currently frozen.
Introduction
The Diversity Visa (DV) Program, a congressionally mandated pathway that provides up to 55,000 green cards annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States, has been officially suspended as of late December 2025. This administrative “pause,” directed by President Trump and implemented through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State, marks a pivotal shift in U.S. immigration policy. The administration’s thesis for the suspension rests on the assertion that the lottery system contains vetting vulnerabilities that pose a risk to public safety. By halting the program indefinitely, federal agencies intend to conduct a thorough review of screening procedures to ensure that applicants do not possess records or intent detrimental to national security. This move has immediate legal and procedural implications for over 130,000 selectees and their families, many of whom are now in a state of administrative limbo.
Background
Established by the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was designed to diversify the U.S. immigrant population by selecting applicants mostly from countries underrepresented in other immigrant categories.
Key Definitions and Vetting Procedures
The “Lottery”
While often called a lottery due to its randomized selection process, the program is not a simple drawing. Selectees must meet strict eligibility requirements, including at least a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience.
Vetting Requirements
Before a green card is issued, selectees must undergo rigorous background checks, submit a comprehensive DS-260 immigrant visa electronic application, provide civil and criminal records, and pass an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
DHS vs. State Department Roles
The Department of State oversees the vast majority of the program, managing the lottery and issuing visas at overseas posts. USCIS (under DHS) handles “Adjustment of Status” for a small percentage of selectees who are already legally present in the U.S. on other nonimmigrant visas.
The program is immensely popular, with nearly 20 million individuals applying for the 2025 cycle. In the 2025/2026 fiscal cycle, approximately 131,000 individuals (including spouses and children) were notified of their selection for the further processing that has now been halted.
The Suspension and Administrative Rationale
The catalyst for the December 2025 suspension was a violent incident involving fatal shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Law enforcement identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who became a permanent resident in 2017.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on the social platform X that the suspect “was issued a green card through the DV1 program,” characterizing the incident as a failure of the current system. While some news reports indicate that the individual first entered the United States on a student visa as early as 2000, the administration has used the 2017 permanent residency grant as the basis for the current “pause.”
Following the directive, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary Noem issued parallel instructions to their respective agencies. USCIS released Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193, which mandates a hold on all pending adjustment of status applications, ancillary benefits (such as work permits), and associated waivers for DV applicants. The memo states that the burden of processing delays is “necessary and appropriate” when weighed against the agency’s obligation to protect Americans from harm.
Key Takeaways
The suspension introduces several immediate challenges for applicants and practitioners:
- Consular and Interview Freeze: All diversity visa interviews at U.S. consulates worldwide have been effectively frozen. Applicants who had interviews scheduled for late December 2025 or early 2026 should expect cancellations.
- Adjustment of Status Hold: For those already in the U.S. seeking to adjust status, USCIS will not issue final decisions. This hold includes Form I-765 (Employment Authorization) and Form I-131 (Travel Documents) if they are based on a pending DV application.
- Uncertainty of 2026 Cycle: The application window for the next lottery cycle (DV-2027) may be delayed or canceled depending on the outcome of the administration’s review.
- Legal Authority Questions: Because the Diversity Visa program is established by statute (8 U.S.C. § 1153(c)), legal experts suggest that a permanent abolition would require an Act of Congress. However, the executive branch maintains broad authority under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend “entry” for reasons of national security.
Conclusion
The suspension of the Diversity Visa program represents a significant restriction on a long-standing legal immigration pathway. Framed by the administration as a temporary but necessary response to a specific security threat, the pause effectively places the dreams of tens of thousands of global applicants on hold. While the program has faced similar suspensions in the past—most notably in 2020—the current directive is explicitly tied to a security re-evaluation rather than public health. As federal agencies conduct their reviews, the status of the 131,000 currently selected applicants remains unresolved. Legal challenges are anticipated, as the program is enshrined in federal law, yet for the foreseeable future, the “door” provided by the green card lottery remains closed.
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