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    Looking At The Diversity Visa Program That Brought Him Here — And Its Fate

    Science instructor Abdel Akim Adjibade came to the U.S. through the diversity visa lottery program. Now, amid a fraught immigration debate, that program is under fire.
    by Isabel Dobrin Feb 03, 2018 3 minutes
    The diversity lottery, often referred to as the green card lottery, is available for people from countries with <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/diversity-visa">low immigration</a> rates to the U.S. But in recent months, criticism of the program has grown louder, culminating with President Trump calling to end it.

    For Abdel Akim Adjibade, the fifth time was the charm. He remembers clearly the day in 2003 he found out the news. He'd won the lottery — literally.

    After receiving four rejections, Adjibade, a science instructor from Burkina Faso in West Africa, opened a large envelope to see the word "Congratulations" along with his photo and case number. The U.S. had selected him for one of the up to 50,000 visas issued annually via lottery selection through the Diversity Immigrant Visa

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