The U.S. government plans to expand its travel ban to over 30 countries, as confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid ongoing immigration policy changes.
The U.S. government is preparing to broaden its travel restrictions, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announcing that more than 30 countries could be added to the existing travel ban.
In an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Noem stated, “I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries.” When pressed about the possibility of expanding the ban to 32 countries, she reiterated her earlier comments without providing additional details.
In June, President Trump issued a proclamation that barred citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States and imposed restrictions on travelers from seven others. The administration cited the need to protect against “foreign terrorists” and other security risks. The current travel ban affects both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business visitors.
Noem did not disclose which additional countries might be included in the expanded ban, which currently encompasses 19 nations. She emphasized the administration’s focus on national security, stating, “If they don’t have a stable government there, if they don’t have a country that can sustain itself and tell us who those individuals are and help us vet them, why should we allow people from that country to come here to the United States?”
Earlier reports from Reuters indicated that the administration was considering restrictions on travelers from 36 more countries, as outlined in an internal State Department cable. An expansion of the travel ban would represent a further tightening of the administration’s immigration policies, particularly in light of a recent incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were fatally shot. The shooter was identified as an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program, which critics of the Trump administration argue lacked adequate vetting.
In the aftermath of the shooting, President Trump pledged to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries,” although he did not specify which nations he was referring to or clarify his definition of the term.
Prior to this announcement, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had confirmed that Trump had directed a comprehensive review of asylum approvals granted during Joe Biden’s presidency, as well as green cards issued to citizens from 19 countries.
This latest development underscores the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape U.S. immigration policy amid heightened security concerns and political pressures.
According to Reuters, the potential expansion of the travel ban reflects the administration’s commitment to a stricter immigration stance.