U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the United States green card lottery program, dealing a major blow to Kenyans and others planning to seek permanent residence in the United States through this long-standing route.
Trump’s directive follows the tragic shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where the suspect identified as Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente was linked to multiple fatalities and injuries.
Valente legally entered the United States and later became a permanent resident after obtaining a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the green card lottery.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension, saying the lottery system “allowed the suspect to enter the United States” and remarking that he “should never have been allowed in our country.”
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Acting at Trump’s direction, Noem ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to immediately pause the program pending further review.
The lottery, which annually awards up to 50,000 green cards to applicants from countries with historically low rates of U.S. immigration, has been a critical pathway for many Kenyans and Africans to relocate to America.
In 2025, nearly 20 million people applied, with over 131,000 individuals selected — though being selected does not guarantee entry, as winners still undergo vetting before receiving permanent residency.
The suspension is expected to spark legal and political challenges, as the diversity visa program was established by the U.S. Congress and is embedded in immigration law.
Critics argue the move undermines a fair and random system designed to promote multicultural representation, while supporters say it strengthens national security.
For now, Kenyans and global applicants face uncertainty about future lottery rounds, and many are anxiously watching for further announcements from U.S. immigration authorities.
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