About two weeks from now, the State Department will randomly draw 50,000 names from the fifteen million entries for U.S. visas, as part of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. The Diversity Visa program garnered attention recently, after news that a computer glitch invalidated a drawing in early May, obligating the State Department to nullify 22,000 visas it had previously awarded. On Monday, we spoke with Jalal El Mir, a 30-year-old middle school English teacher from Morocco who was one of the 22,000 whose visa was invalidated. Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who represents Virginia’s sixth district, speaks with us today. Goodlatte wants to end the Diversity Visa Program.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!