The United States is preparing to expand its travel ban to more than 30 countries, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Thursday, signalling a major escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration and national security policies.
In an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Noem was asked whether President Donald Trump planned to increase the number of affected countries to 32.
“I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries,” she said.
The expansion would build on a June proclamation in which Trump barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the US and imposed restrictions on travellers from seven others.
The bans apply to both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business visitors.
Noem did not reveal which countries may be added. She said entry restrictions were necessary for nations that lack stable governments or reliable systems to verify their citizens.
“If they don’t have a stable government… and help us vet them, why should we allow people from that country to come here?” she asked.
Reuters previously reported that the administration was considering banning citizens from 36 additional countries, citing an internal State Department cable.
Travel ban expansion follows DC shooting.
The move comes amid heightened political pressure after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, DC last week.
Investigators say the suspect is an Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021 through a resettlement programme, a case Trump officials claim lacked proper vetting.
In the aftermath, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries,” without specifying which nations he meant.
His administration has also reviewed asylum approvals granted under President Joe Biden and suspended immigration processing for citizens of 19 already-restricted countries.
Aggressive immigration crackdown continues.
Since returning to the office in January, Trump has prioritised sweeping immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major cities and turning away asylum seekers at the southern border.
While the administration has focused on mass deportations, the widening travel ban marks a new push to reshape legal immigration pathways as well.
