US President Donald Trump on Midweek blamed the deadly New York assault past times an Uzbek immigrant on the US greenish carte du jour lottery programme in addition to called for visas to survive awarded exclusively on "merit."
Trump said Sayfullo Saipov, who plowed a rented truck into cyclists in addition to pedestrians on a New York City bike path Tuesday, killing eight, was allowed into the States of America on a State Department programme known every bit the "Diversity Lottery Program" established inward 1990.
He blamed the programme on Senator Chuck Schumer, the senior Democratic senator from New York, fifty-fifty though it was resoundingly supported past times both parties in addition to signed into police describe past times a Republican president, George HW Bush.
"The terrorist came into our solid reason through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I desire merit based" immigration, Trump tweeted.
"We are fighting difficult for Merit Based immigration, no to a greater extent than Democrat Lottery Systems. We must become MUCH tougher (and smarter)," he added.
Saipov, 29, was reported to accept arrived inward the States of America from Uzbekistan inward 2010.
Unconfirmed tidings reports said he entered the solid reason on the State Department program, which aimed to diversify the origins of people granted permanent residence -- so-called greenish cards -- inward the United States.
The programme awards 50,000 residence visas annually.
Schumer speedily rebuffed Trump.
"I accept ever believed in addition to proceed to believe that immigration is skillful for America," he said inward a statement.
"President Trump, instead of politicizing in addition to dividing America, which he ever seems to create at times of national tragedy, should survive focusing on the existent solution -- anti-terrorism funding -- which he proposed cutting inward his close recent budget."
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said investigators accept determined that Saipov since shown an involvement inward the Islamic State grouping in addition to its terror tactics, simply that at that topographic point was no bear witness in addition to hence far that others helped him plot the attack.
Earlier, Trump announced that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to intensify "extreme vetting" of travellers to the United States, operations aimed at screening out potential terrorists.
"Being politically right is fine, simply non for this!" he said via Twitter.
AFP