The United States is poised to significantly widen its controversial travel ban, with the list of prohibited countries set to expand to more than 30, a senior official has confirmed. Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), revealed the plans during a television interview, marking a major escalation in the Trump administration's immigration measures.
Noem Confirms Expansion on Fox News
In an appearance on Fox News's The Ingraham Angle on Thursday evening, Noem was asked directly if the administration would increase the number of nations on the travel ban list to 32. "I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries," she stated. This announcement follows a previous report from Reuters, which cited an internal state department cable suggesting the administration was considering adding citizens from 36 additional countries to the ban.
The secretary justified the expansion by questioning why the US should admit individuals from nations that, in the administration's view, lack stable governments or the capacity to assist with vetting processes. "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?" Noem argued.
Context of the Existing Ban and Recent Events
The current framework was established by a proclamation signed by Donald Trump in June, which barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the US and imposed restrictions on those from seven others. The administration cited the need to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats. The bans apply comprehensively to both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business travellers.
This planned enlargement comes in the wake of heightened security concerns following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. Investigators have identified the alleged shooter as an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 via a resettlement programme. Administration officials have long contended that vetting under such programmes was insufficient. Days after the attack, Trump vowed to "permanently pause" migration from what he broadly termed "third world countries."
Criticism and Wider Immigration Crackdown
The move has been met with sharp criticism from immigration advocacy groups and lawmakers. The escalation coincides with reports that the administration is also halting immigration applications from 19 countries already under existing travel restrictions and canceling naturalization ceremonies for individuals from banned nations.
Furthermore, DHS officials have indicated that President Trump has ordered a widespread review of asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, as well as green cards issued to citizens of the 19 countries currently on the list. This indicates a broader, multi-pronged effort to restrict immigration and scrutinise previous admissions.
The confirmation from Secretary Noem solidifies what will be one of the most substantial expansions of the travel ban since its inception, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of entry to the United States for nationals from dozens of countries across the globe.
