Diversity Lottery Visa Recipient Strikes in Lower Manhattan
Terror has befallen America once again. The latest incident: eight people killed, 11 injured when a man driving a rented Home Depot truck intentionally ran over cyclists on a bike path and crashed into a mini school bus. Details are emerging about the Manhattan attack suspect, including reports that he was part of Obama’s Diversity Visa lottery program. Let’s uncover whether these reports are indeed correct.
Who Is Sayfullo Saipov?
According to multiple reports, the man who allegedly mowed down innocent bystanders is Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year old former Uzbekistan national. He reportedly spent the majority of his time in the Tampa, Florida area after originally settling in Cincinnati, Ohio upon his arrival in 2010.
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Some have described the suspect as hard-working, with acquaintance Dilnoza Abdusamatova quoted as saying, “He always used to work… he only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work.” (Source: “Sayfullo Saipov: What we know about the Tampa man accused in the NYC attack,” ABC Action News, November 1, 2017.)
Saipov was married on March 25, 2013, to another Uzbek named Nozima Odilova. She was 19 years old at the time; he was 25. They are reported to have two young children.
Saipov owned two companies: Sayf Motors Inc, registered in 2011, and Bright Auto LLC (2013). The latter was listed as a “motor carrier” in a Department of Transport database. (Source: “Who is New York attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov?,” CNN, November 1, 2017.)
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Saipov is also a former Uber driver, who had been vetted and was approved as a licensed carrier for the company. He received multiple traffic citations in the past, including the failure to maintain his vehicle’s brake system in 2015. (Source: Ibid.)
Was Manhattan Attack Done for ISIS?
Several sources are reporting the vehicular jihad attack in Manhattan was perpetrated on behalf of ISIS. To date, these have been confirmed by “unnamed sources” within law enforcement. (Source: “Suspect Claimed He Committed NYC Truck Attack for ISIS: Sources,” WNBC-TV, November 1, 2017.)
The suspect is also reported to have shouted “Allahu akbar” (translation: “God is great” or “[our] God is greater”) during the time of the attack, confirming a religious motivation. Many similar attacks where the perpetrator yells “Allahu akbar” have previously carried ISIS or Islamic militant terrorist ties. (Source: “Sayfullo Saipov: everything we know about New York suspect,” The Telegraph, November 1, 2017.)
The suspect has reportedly attended a mosque, although those that know him claim he was an infrequent visitor. The major source of radicalization isn’t currently known.
Did Sayfullo Saipov Enter the U.S. Under Obama’s DHS Diversity Visa Program?
According to ABC New York, Saipov entered the U.S. in 2010 from Uzbekistan under the U.S. Diversity Visa Program before obtaining a green card. The Diversity Visa Lottery currently grants around 50,000 visas every year to persons abroad, including those from known terrorist-supporting nations. (Source: “Report: NYC Foreign Terror Suspect Entered U.S. With ‘Diversity Visa’ Trump Wants To End,” Breitbart, November 1, 2017.)
Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated based on three laws: section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. Currently, there are three countries designated under these authorities: Iran, Sudan, and Syria.
| Country | Designation Date |
| Iran | January 19, 1984 |
| Sudan | August 12, 1993 |
| Syria | December 29, 1979 |
(Source: “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, last accessed November 1, 2017.)
The Diversity Visa Lottery Program itself is controlled under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The program provides what are known as “diversity immigrants” to emigrate to the U.S. from countries with historically low immigration rates. Uzbekistan is one of the countries on that list. (Source: “The Diversity Visa Process,” U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs, last accessed November 1, 2017.)
The program was established in 1990, meaning it was not instituted by the Obama administration, as some headlines imply. Rather, it was by authored by New York House representative Chuck Schumer and spearheaded by representative Bruce Morrison, a Connecticut Democrat. The bill had broad bipartisan support at the time. It passed the Senate 89-8 and the House 264-118. (Source: “What is the diversity visa lottery?,” CNN, November 1, 2017.)
When conservative or right-leaning articles reference Saipov as arriving on Obama’s diversity plan in 2010, that is a false insinuation. More accurately, Saipov entered at the time of Obama’s administrative watch. Obama himself did not do anything directly or indirectly that ties him into the Diversity Visa Lottery currently in place.
Trump Wants to End the Diversity Visa Lottery Program
President Donald Trump, along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Perdue (R-GA), has been campaigning to end the Diversity Visa Lottery Program since August 2017. Under the RAISE Act introduced in February, the Diversity Visa Lottery would be eliminated in favor of a merit-based system. Expected immigration levels would also be expected to drop by about half from the current one million. (Source: “Exclusive — Sen. Tom Cotton: Time to Cut Immigration Levels, Shift Focus to Helping American Citizens First,” Breitbart, February 7, 2017.)
President Trump took direct aim at the program in October 2017. In a revamped set of proposals, Trump called for a direct elimination of the Diversity Visa Lottery. (Source: “White House Immigration Priorities Exclude Repatriation, but Include Cuts in Chain Migration,” Breitbart, October 9, 2017.)
After the tragic events in Manhattan, it seems unlikely Trump will ease off pressure to reform U.S. immigration laws. That includes associated restrictive travel restrictions from predominantly Muslim countries (a.k.a. the Muslim ban).
Our Verdict
Did Manhattan terrorist suspect Sayfullo Saipov arrive on Obama’s DHS diversity visa plan? Yes. It has been confirmed that Saipov did settle in the U.S. through the program, and that occurred in 2010, during the Obama administration’s watch.
However, we do find it disingenuous that some conservative media are characterizing the suspect as entering through “Obama’s Diversity Visa plan.” That is incorrect. The plan was conceived by Democrats in 1990 and received broad bipartisan support at the time, easily passing in the House and Senate. Obama was neither directly or indirectly involved in any capacity.
