The United States has reportedly moved to suspend the annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program for an indefinite period. This significant policy shift follows a recent tragic incident in the country, leading the government to prioritize a thorough re-evaluation of its national security and screening protocols. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that this action aligns with a directive from President Donald Trump, who has called for stricter oversight and more rigorous controls throughout the visa issuance process.
The DV lottery program is a major immigration pathway, typically providing approximately 50,000 green cards each year to citizens of countries with lower rates of immigration to the U.S. Authorities have clarified that this suspension is currently classified as temporary. Because the program is established by federal law, the executive branch cannot permanently abolish it without the formal consent of Congress. This breaking update has been cited by international news agencies, including AP and Reuters.