US Homeland Security Secretary advocates for increased travel restrictions

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to recommend a travel ban targeting multiple countries she claims are contributing to rising criminal activity in the United States. Posting on social media Monday, Noem stated that after a discussion with President Donald Trump, she intends to propose "a complete travel ban on all nations bringing killers, freeloaders, and entitlement seekers into our country." Both Trump and the Department of Homeland Security shared her post on their official channels.

The specific countries affected and the potential start date for the travel restrictions have not yet been disclosed. The BBC has reached out to DHS for comment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump previously announced travel restrictions on several "third world and failed state" countries, and that Noem's recommendation could expand the list.

On June 4, the White House identified 19 countries, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, as subject to full or partial immigration limitations. Noems remarks follow the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday, though she did not directly connect her recommendation to the incident.

Authorities identified the suspect in the D.C. shooting as an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 through a program for Afghans who assisted American forces during the two-decade U.S. deployment in Afghanistan. Emails obtained by CBS News revealed that the suspect faced mental health challenges after arriving in the country.

The Trump administration has stepped up immigration scrutiny following the attack, which resulted in the death of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and serious injuries to Andrew Wolfe, 24. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey reported that Wolfe had responded to nurses with a thumbs-up but remained in serious condition in the hospital.

All asylum processing was paused after the shooting. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated that the suspension would continue "until we can ensure that every individual is thoroughly vetted and screened." Edlow also confirmed that Trump asked him to review green card approvals for migrants from the 19 previously mentioned countries. Later, Trump suggested the possibility of "permanently pausing migration" from all developing nations, criticizing refugees for causing social disruption and emphasizing the need to admit only those who contribute positively to the U.S.

During his second term, Trump has pursued policies including mass deportations of undocumented migrants, reductions in refugee admissions, and limiting automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. The Afghan Community Coalition of the United States released a statement expressing condolences to the victims families, urging a full investigation, and cautioning against delaying Afghan immigration claims. The coalition highlighted the importance of maintaining the 20-year partnership between the U.S. and Afghanistan, initiated in 2001 to topple the Taliban and stabilize the country.

The United Nations has also called on the U.S. to honor international asylum agreements, Reuters reported.

Author: Sophia Brooks