It wasn’t on December 13, 2025, that the deadly harmful shooting incident broke out at Brown University. Surprisingly in response the U.S. government has taken unprecedented measures, such as suspending the diversity visa lottery program. Read more Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, faces murder charges in the shooting. His experience of getting a green card through this program in 2017. The shooting ended up killing two students and injuring nine others.
At the time of the shooting, authorities had identified Valente as a suspect, who had killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro. Valente, who had dropped out of a doctorate program at Brown University before completing it, was discovered dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the shooting incident.
Details of the Incident
The Brown University shooting during the recruited student’s campus visit added a dramatic and fearful flight and fright experience for potential students and faculty. When Valente opened fire on November 13, 2007, his actions created a deeply tragic and painful outcome that rocked the university community and beyond to its core. The tragic event sparked the swift mobilization of law enforcement and state officials.
Governor Kristi Noem confirmed Valente’s identity as the shooter and expressed her condolences to the victims’ families. Further investigation led to the discovery that Valente had once been a classmate of Loureiro’s in Portugal. Loureiro, known for his revolutionary research in plasma physics, died unexpectedly in his home on November 15, 2025. When authorities found him, Phillips had been shot five times.
This new revelation about Valente’s connection to Loureiro deepened concerns about Valente’s motivations and mental state. Investigators have a long way to go in understanding the circumstances leading up to these incidents.
Immigration Reform Response
In response to the shooting and Valente’s background, President Donald Trump’s administration suspended the diversity visa lottery program. This program had permitted people from dozens of countries to apply for U.S. residency through a lottery that randomly selected recipients. This program has allowed Valente’s past entry to the United States.
At the National Press Club press conference, Governor Noem had an opportunity to lay out her objections to the visa lottery system.
“At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.” – Kristi Noem
Today, Trump took his first stab at reducing immigration by ending the lottery system. He questions its potential effectiveness in choosing the most qualified immigrants for the United States.
“They have a lottery. You pick people. Do you think the country is giving us their best people? No,” – Donald Trump
His administration has consistently linked high-profile attacks to vulnerabilities within the immigration system, asserting that changes are necessary to protect American citizens.
Broader Implications
Beyond the details of Valente’s case lies a much broader issue — that of how harmful immigration policies sabotaged national security. The rebuff was apparently enough for the U.S. State Department to spring into action on the debacle. They pledged to hold accountable any individual who uses American hospitality to plan or carry out violence.
“Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed.” – U.S. State Department
The diversity visa lottery program has faced scrutiny for allowing individuals with potentially dangerous backgrounds to enter the United States. Critics contend that this deeply flawed system must be reformed to keep similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
