AKIPRESS.COM - US President Donald Trump has called for the green card lottery to be scrapped, saying it allowed the New York truck attack suspect into the US, BBCreported.

In a series of tweets he called for the immigration programme to be replaced with a merit-based system.

Mr Trump pinned blame for the scheme on Senator Chuck Schumer, who accused Mr Trump of cutting anti-terror funding.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Authorities have not yet confirmed how the suspect in Tuesday's attack, Sayfullo Saipov, immigrated to the US.

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning: "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

He continued: "We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

The US president also accused Senator Schumer, a New York Democrat, of "helping to import Europes [sic] problems".