US Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery After Brown University Shooting
The U.S. pauses the Diversity Visa Lottery after a Brown University shooting and an MIT professor's murder, linked to a suspect who entered the U.S. via the visa program while authorities review safeguards.
In the United States, authorities paused the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program — commonly known as the DV lottery — after a deadly shooting at Brown University and the murder of an MIT professor. The gunman, Claudio Neves Valente, died by suicide following a six-day, multi-state manhunt.
What happened
Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, reported two student deaths and several injuries when a gunman entered an engineering building during final exams. Two days later, police identified a 47-year-old MIT professor, Nuno Loureiro, as a victim in an attack at his Brookline, Massachusetts home. Valente, a Portuguese national, had entered the United States through the DV lottery in 2017 and was later found dead in New Hampshire.
Investigation and links
Investigators tied the cases together after reviewing security footage and tips from the public. The same vehicle was seen near both scenes, and a six-day manhunt across multiple states ended when Valente was located in a Salem, New Hampshire storage facility. A satchel and two firearms found nearby matched items connected to the shootings.
About the DV Program
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program offers up to 50,000 visas each year to people from nations with low U.S. immigration rates, awarded by a random drawing. Officials say the pause allows security reviews and safeguards reassessment.
Official comments
Expert comment: Security experts say the pause reflects a broader policy debate about how immigration screening relates to public safety. They caution that any changes must balance security with the rights and needs of applicants.
Victims
Brown University identified two deceased students: Ella Cook, 19, a sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, an Uzbek-American who had just started at Brown. Nine others were injured. The university has offered counseling and safety resources to the campus community.
The events have prompted ongoing investigations and a public dialogue about the balance between immigration policy and public safety.
Short summary: The DV lottery pause follows a linked violent incident at Brown University and the MIT professor's death, underscoring concerns around visa vetting and security. Investigators traced the suspect to both crimes, and he died during the manhunt. The case highlights how immigration policy remains a pivotal issue in national security discussions.
Key takeaway: The DV lottery pause illustrates how immigration policy and public safety concerns can converge after a violent crime. BBC News
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