US Poised To Expand Travel Ban To More Than 30 Countries Amid Security Review

International

oi-Ruchika Pareek

Published: Friday, December 5, 2025, 14:14 [IST]

The United States is preparing to expand its travel restrictions to more than 30 countries, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Speaking during an interview on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle, Noem confirmed that the Trump administration is actively reviewing additional nations based on concerns tied to security, government stability, and information-sharing capabilities. When asked whether the list could rise to 32 countries, she declined to give an exact figure but acknowledged that the number would exceed 30.

The development comes months after President Donald Trump issued a proclamation in June blocking entry for citizens from 12 countries and imposing travel restrictions on seven others. The order referenced national security risks, arguing that the measures were needed to guard against "foreign terrorists" and other threats. The existing prohibitions apply to both immigrants and non-immigrant travelers, including tourists, students, and business visitors.

Noem did not specify which additional countries were under consideration but emphasized that the administration is evaluating each nation's capacity to verify and share identity information about its citizens. She questioned why the U.S. should admit travelers from countries lacking functional governance or reliable systems to support vetting processes.

Earlier reporting from Reuters, based on a State Department cable, indicated that officials were examining whether to add citizens from 36 more countries to the travel ban. The potential expansion follows a series of security concerns, including the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Authorities said the suspect-an Afghan national-entered the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program that federal officials now say suffered from inadequate screening procedures.

In the aftermath of the incident, President Trump announced a plan to "permanently pause" migration from what he termed "Third World Countries," although he did not name any specific nations. Homeland Security officials also confirmed that Trump ordered a review of asylum approvals granted under the previous Biden administration, along with an examination of Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.

Since assuming office again in January, President Trump has placed renewed emphasis on tightening immigration controls. His administration has expanded the deployment of federal agents to major metropolitan areas, restricted asylum processing at the southern border, and intensified deportation operations. The anticipated enlargement of the travel ban marks a broader effort to reshape not only enforcement policies but also the legal immigration framework.