President Trump Calls on Congress to End Green Card Lottery

President Trump Calls on Congress to End Diversity Visa Lottery

President Donald Trump has called for the immediate termination of the Diversity Visa Lottery program, citing concerns that it may have contributed to the entry of the driver responsible for a deadly attack in New York City. The attack, which occurred in Manhattan and resulted in eight deaths and at least a dozen injuries, has reignited the debate about U.S. immigration policies.

In remarks made at a Cabinet meeting less than 24 hours after the attack, Trump reiterated his criticisms of the Diversity Visa Lottery program, which he had previously addressed on social media. “I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program,” Trump announced. “I’m going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program. The program sounds nice, but it’s not nice. It’s not good,” he added.

Trump Advocates for a Merit-Based Immigration System

The Diversity Visa Lottery, established in 1990 as part of a bipartisan immigration reform effort under President George H.W. Bush, allocates green cards to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S. However, Trump has long opposed the program, advocating for a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes skilled workers.

In August, Trump endorsed a bill introduced by two Republican senators aimed at overhauling the U.S. immigration system. The bill proposes cutting legal immigration in half by 2027, with a focus on merit-based criteria rather than random lottery selection.

“We don’t want lotteries where the wrong people are in the lotteries,” Trump said. “And guess what, who are the suckers who get those people?”

The Debate Over Political Correctness and Immigration

Trump also expressed frustration with what he described as political correctness surrounding U.S. immigration policy. “We have to get much tougher, we have to get much smarter, and we have to get much less politically correct,” he said. “We’re so politically correct that we’re afraid to do anything.”

The call for ending the Diversity Visa Lottery program is part of Trump’s broader push to reshape U.S. immigration policy and reduce what he views as security risks associated with unvetted immigration pathways. While the program has been the subject of ongoing debate, Trump’s comments have reignited conversations about the future of U.S. immigration reform.

The History of the Diversity Visa Lottery

The Diversity Visa Lottery program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, was created as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. Its aim is to increase immigration from countries that traditionally send fewer immigrants to the United States. Despite its original intentions to promote diversity, the program has faced criticism over the years. Opponents argue that the lottery can be exploited by individuals with ties to terrorism or criminal activity, posing a potential security threat.

In 2013, a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight” attempted to eliminate the lottery program as part of a broader immigration reform effort. However, the proposal was ultimately blocked by the House of Representatives.

As President Trump continues to push for a reevaluation of U.S. immigration policies, the future of the Diversity Visa Lottery remains uncertain. For now, the debate over its effectiveness and security implications continues to shape the national conversation about immigration reform in the United States.