The U.S. Department of State has announced an immediate suspension of its Diversity Immigrant Visa program. The move, authorities say, is part of an effort to ensure the program meets the nation’s highest standards of national and public security.
In a statement, officials indicated the suspension will allow the department to implement necessary measures to protect national security. The order is effective immediately and applies to all pending and new diversity visa applications.
According to the State Department’s website, the decision follows recent security concerns, including the shooting at Brown University and the murder of a professor at MIT. Reports indicate that the suspect in the professor’s killing had originally entered the United States through the diversity visa lottery.
The suspension is intended to address potential vulnerabilities in the vetting process. It will allow immigration officials to more thoroughly verify the identities and backgrounds of lottery winners before any visas are issued, ensuring they do not pose a threat to public safety.
Applicants may continue to submit forms, book appointments, and attend interviews during the suspension. However, no visas will be printed or issued until further notice. The State Department also confirmed that existing interviews will not be rescheduled or canceled.
