US Halts Diversity Visa Lottery After Brown University Shooting

The United States paused the diversity visa lottery after a deadly shooting at Brown University, signaling a tighter focus on immigration safeguards. The move comes as investigators search for motives and connections in a case that also involved an MIT professor who was killed earlier in the week.

What happened at Brown University

Two students were killed and several injured when a gunman opened fire during final exams in the engineering building on December 13. The victims were Ella Cook, 19, from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, a first-year student who had recently arrived in the United States.

The shooter and his ties

The suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, had entered the United States in 2017 through the DV-1 visa program, commonly called the diversity visa lottery. He was later found dead in Salem, New Hampshire, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a six-day, multi-state manhunt.

Killing of the MIT professor

Police believe Valente also killed Nuno Loureiro, a 47-year-old professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at his home in nearby Brookline. Both men had studied at the same university in Portugal in the late 1990s, according to investigators.

How the investigation unfolded

Authorities traced the suspect's vehicle using CCTV footage and tips from Brown students, linking it to the two attacks. The same car was later spotted near the professor's home and the Brown shooting scene.

About the diversity visa program

The diversity immigrant visa program offers up to 50,000 visas each year to people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates, chosen randomly. Critics have long argued about potential security risks, while supporters say it helps diversify the immigrant pool.

Official response and next steps

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the pause on the program, noting it will be held until further notice to ensure public safety. She pointed to past incidents where opponents argued for ending the scheme, while emphasizing the need for safeguards.

Expert view

Expert comment: An immigration policy analyst said the suspension signals a shift toward heightened scrutiny of visa programs. The expert notes more robust checks may be required to prevent misuse while balancing legitimate travel needs.

Conclusion

Authorities have not released a motive for the crimes. The green card lottery program remains paused as investigators pursue more information. The incidents have renewed debate over immigration programs and public safety.

Short summary: The United States halted the diversity visa lottery after a Brown University shooting and the killing of an MIT professor. Investigators linked the suspect to both incidents through CCTV and tips. The pause reflects a broader reassessment of visa programs and their safety controls.

Key insight: The case shows how immigration policy and public safety intersect in real-world events. Source: BBC News

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