The United States is preparing to broaden its list of countries subject to travel bans and entry restrictions, potentially affecting more than 30 nations. This move was confirmed by Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, during an interview with Fox News on Thursday.
In the interview, Noem was questioned about whether President Donald Trump's administration intended to extend the travel ban list to 32 countries. While she refrained from providing an exact number, she did confirm that the expansion would be substantial. "I'm not going to specify the exact count, but it's over 30, and the president is continually assessing countries," she stated.
Rationale Behind the Policy
Noem explained that the policy is driven by concerns over the lack of institutional stability in certain regions. "If they don't have a stable government, if they can't provide us with information about who their people are and assist in vetting them, why should we allow individuals from that country into the United States?" she argued.
She did not disclose which nations would be added to the list. The restrictions impact both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business travelers.
Political and Security Context
This decision comes amid escalating political tensions and follows months of internal assessments. In June, Trump signed a proclamation banning entry from citizens of 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security threats from "foreign terrorists."
Previously, Reuters had reported that the administration was considering barring entry to citizens from an additional 36 countries, as indicated by an internal State Department memo, foreshadowing a significant expansion of the policy.
Impact of Recent Violent Incident
The renewed push for tighter immigration controls follows a shooting incident where two National Guard members were attacked in Washington D.C., resulting in the death of one soldier. The perpetrator was an Afghan citizen who entered the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program, raising questions about the rigor of verification processes applied in such cases.
In response to the attack, Trump vowed to "permanently pause" migration from all third-world countries, though he did not specify which ones, marking the tone for new decisions.
Background and Current Restrictions
The administration had been considering expanding the travel ban, a move strongly advocated by Noem. In her social media posts, she defended the broader ban using particularly harsh language. "I recommend a complete travel ban on all countries flooding our nation with murderers, leeches, and entitlement addicts," she declared.
Currently, the U.S. imposes full or partial restrictions on citizens from 19 countries under Presidential Proclamation 10949, issued on June 4, 2025. Full restrictions apply to Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Meanwhile, partial limitations affect Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. In these cases, certain exemptions apply for travelers with dual nationality or specific diplomatic visas, such as A-1 or G-4.
Immediate Measures and Future Plans
Alongside the potential expansion, immediate actions have been implemented. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended all immigration applications from the 19 currently restricted countries and ordered a reevaluation of green cards already issued to citizens from those nations.
USCIS Director Joe Edlow announced updated criteria that will allow certain national factors to be considered as "significant negatives" in future assessments. "We will pause all asylum decisions until we can ensure that each foreigner is vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible," he stated.
The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed that it is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Joe Biden administration in an effort to further tighten the system's filters.
Broader Implications
If approved, the expansion of the travel ban would represent one of the most comprehensive restrictions in recent U.S. history. Human rights organizations and migrant communities have raised concerns about the scope of the policy, which could have significant humanitarian and diplomatic ramifications.
What began as a response to a violent incident could evolve into a large-scale shift in U.S. immigration policy, with effects felt well beyond its borders.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Expanded Travel Ban
Why is the U.S. expanding the travel ban to over 30 countries?
The expansion is driven by concerns over national security and the lack of institutional stability in certain regions, as well as challenges in verifying the identity of travelers from these countries.
Which countries are currently affected by U.S. travel restrictions?
The U.S. imposes full or partial restrictions on citizens from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, and others, as detailed in Presidential Proclamation 10949.
What immediate measures are being taken alongside the travel ban expansion?
The USCIS has suspended immigration applications from the restricted countries and is reevaluating previously issued green cards. The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.