In a significant shift in US immigration policy, President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of the Diversity Visa Program—commonly known as the green card lottery—after it emerged that the suspect involved in the Brown University and MIT shootings had entered the United States through the program.
The decision has triggered intense political and public debate, with the administration citing national security concerns as the primary reason for the move.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the suspension in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that she had ordered the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the program following President Trump’s directive.
“At the President’s direction, I have ordered USCIS to pause the Diversity Visa Program to ensure no more harm comes to Americans from this disastrous policy,” Noem said.
“This heinous individual should never have been allowed into our country.”
What is the Diversity Visa Program?
The Diversity Visa Program annually provides up to 50,000 green cards through a lottery system to individuals from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the US. The initiative has primarily benefited applicants from African nations, while countries with high migration numbers—such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines—are excluded.
Winners of the lottery are still required to undergo extensive background checks, security screening, and interviews before receiving permanent residency.
India Remains Ineligible Until 2028
India has remained ineligible for the green card lottery due to consistently high immigration figures. According to US Department of Homeland Security data, 93,450 Indians immigrated to the US in 2021, a number that surged to 127,010 in 2022. Although the figure declined to 78,070 in 2023, India’s overall migration levels continue to exceed the eligibility threshold.
As a result, Indian nationals will remain excluded from the Diversity Visa Program at least until 2028.
For the 2025 visa lottery, nearly 20 million people worldwide applied, with over 131,000 individuals—including spouses—selected, underscoring the program’s global demand.
Shrinking Immigration Pathways for Indians
With the suspension of the Diversity Visa Program and India’s continued ineligibility, immigration options for Indian nationals are becoming increasingly limited. Most now rely on employment-based routes such as transitioning from H-1B visas to green cards, investment-based visas, family sponsorship, or asylum claims.
However, under President Trump’s tighter immigration framework, many of these pathways face heightened scrutiny and policy restrictions, creating uncertainty for both skilled workers and US employers who depend on foreign talent.
The suspension of the green card lottery marks one of the most consequential immigration moves of Trump’s current term and signals a tougher stance that could reshape America’s legal immigration landscape in the years ahead.
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