US Homeland Security orders pause of DV1 visa program

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said late on Thursday that she has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the DV1 program.

Gursimran Kaur/Reuters

19 December 2025 at 05:19:30

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a House Homeland Security hearing entitled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said late on Thursday that she has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the DV1 program.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, according to the USCIS website.

Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru/Reuters

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said late on Thursday that she has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the DV1 program.