Trump faults Schumer, 'diversity' immigration in truck attack

The Department of Homeland Security says the suspect in the New York City truck attack entered the United States in 2010 under the diversity visa program.

Homeland Security officials are confirming that the immigrant from Uzbekistan arrived in the U.S. that way.

That's the immigration program that President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to eliminate "as soon as possible." The president says the program is "not good," and says the U.S. needs to "get much tougher."

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program covers immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Trump on Twitter called the `Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Trump tweeted, "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

Senate Republicans are coming to Democratic Sen. Schumer's defense.  Schumer was part of a group of Republicans and Democrats who backed a comprehensive immigration bill in 2013 to end the program as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

GOP Sen. John McCain was part of that group. He said the bill would have eliminated the program and replaced it with a merit-based system.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said of Trump criticism: "Probably not the best way to bring out the best in our country."

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said of Trump's hit on Schumer: "It's not something I would do. We've all got different styles. It's not the way I would handle it."

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