USCIS Director Joseph Edlow has been outspoken in his opposition to the program. In a September interview, he said he would like to see the Diversity Immigrant visa “gone,” adding later to The Associated Press that he supports a merit-based immigration system designed to benefit the U.S. economy.
“I’ve never really seen at this point the efficacy and the utility to continue the diversity visa,” Edlow said, noting that Congress would ultimately decide its future.
Political and Legal Questions Surrounding the Suspension
It remains unclear whether the administration can fully suspend the Diversity Immigrant visa program without congressional approval. Legal experts say Congress, which created the program, would likely have authority over a permanent suspension.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the pause as a review rather than a condemnation of immigrants.
“The reason why you suspend this program is not because you argue everybody who came in under that visa is a bad person,” Rubio said. “It’s because you want to determine whether there’s something in the vetting of that program that’s insufficient.”
