The agency said the suspension was prompted by a shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor allegedly committed by a DV program entrant. The move follows concerns raised by a shooting at Brown University and the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, which the department said was suspected to have been committed by an individual admitted to the United States through the Diversity Visa (DV) program.

In updated guidance published as a set of frequently asked questions, the State Department said the pause will allow it to review screening and vetting protocols for the DV program. "This review will address any vulnerabilities in the process to ensure the Department can adequately establish the identity of aliens who are selected through the DV entry lottery, establish the applicants' visa eligibility, and ensure that they do not present a threat to national security or public safety," the department stated.

The department said it is "committed to ensuring that its visa process upholds the highest standards for U.S. national security and public safety." It described the pause as a response to "concerns raised by the shooting at Brown University and killing of an MIT professor suspected to have been committed by an individual admitted to the United States through the DV program."

Under the new guidance, DV applicants may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, and the department will continue to schedule appointments. However, no diversity visas will be issued. Existing diversity visa appointments generally will not be rescheduled or cancelled, the department said.

The department stated there are no exceptions to the pause. It also clarified that no diversity or other visas have been revoked as part of this guidance. For questions relating to admission to the United States, the department referred applicants to the Department of Homeland Security.

No official response from the Department of Homeland Security or any other agency is included in the source account.

Informational content only, not legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney.