US President Donald Trump has called for the green card lottery to be scrapped, saying it allowed the New York truck attack suspect into the US.
“I am starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery programme,” Trump told reporters.
“We have to do what’s right to protect our citizens,” he told reporters.
“We will get rid of this lottery programme as soon as possible.”
Mr Trump pinned blame for the scheme on Senator Chuck Schumer, who accused Mr Trump of cutting anti-terror funding.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how the suspect in Tuesday’s attack, Sayfullo Saipov, immigrated to the US.
Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning: “The terrorist came into our country through what is called the ‘Diversity Visa Lottery Program,’ a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.
He continued: “We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter).”
The US president also accused Senator Schumer, a New York Democrat, of “helping to import Europes [sic] problems”.
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