Travel ban expanded by US to over 30 countries, Noem announces

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the United States will broaden its travel restrictions to encompass more than 30 countries as part of a national security initiative under the Trump administration.

In an interview on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle, Noem was asked whether the administration planned to increase the number of countries on the travel ban list to 32. She replied, "I won't specify the exact number, but it is more than 30, and the president continues to assess countries for inclusion."

The original proclamation, signed by President Donald Trump in June, barred citizens from 12 countries from entering the US and imposed limits on travelers from seven additional nations, citing threats from "foreign terrorists" and other security risks. The restrictions cover both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business travelers.

Noem did not reveal which countries would be added, stating, "If a country lacks stable governance and cannot assist in verifying individuals seeking entry, why should we permit entry from that nation?"

Reports indicate the administration is considering expanding the ban to include citizens from as many as 36 additional nations, according to an internal State Department communication.

This move comes following a recent incident in which an Afghan national, admitted to the US through a resettlement program in 2021, shot two National Guard members in Washington. Officials cited insufficient vetting as a concern motivating the review of migration policies.

Following the attack, President Trump pledged to "permanently pause" migration from certain countries, without specifying which ones. Additionally, the administration initiated a comprehensive review of asylum approvals under the previous Biden administration and scrutinized Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.

Since January, the Trump administration has emphasized stricter immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major cities and limiting asylum access at the US-Mexico border, while also working to modify legal immigration channels.

Author: Harper Simmons