Trump administration will expand travel ban to more than 30 countries, DHS chief says
After meeting with President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged a "full travel ban" and said the administration will expand the current policy covering 19 countries to around—or "over"—30, though she declined to name the countries or give a start date and said the president is still evaluating additions. DHS said it will announce the list soon, and Noem said the expansion would target countries lacking stable governments or the ability to vet travelers, building on a June proclamation that fully barred 12 nations and placed seven under heightened restrictions.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- After meeting with President Trump, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged and reiterated she will recommend a “full travel ban” on additional countries in a post on X.
- Noem said the expansion will cover “over 30” countries; multiple U.S. officials had earlier told CBS the administration was considering expanding the list to around 30 (up from 19).
- The expansion builds on a June proclamation that currently bars entry to 12 countries and places heightened restrictions on seven others (19 total); Axios notes the recommendation is tied to a USCIS review of green‑card holders from those 19 countries.
- DHS has said it will be “announcing the list soon,” but Noem declined to name specific countries or give a start date, saying President Trump is still evaluating which countries to include.
- Noem described the criteria for inclusion as countries that lack stable governments or the ability to help vet travelers.
- This action comes amid other post‑shooting immigration measures the administration has taken, including halting some asylum decisions, pausing Afghan visa processing, and shortening certain work‑authorization (EAD) validity periods.
- Exceptions to the current bans remain for specific events and roles—PBS reports that for the World Cup, athletes, coaches, essential support personnel and immediate relatives can be admitted, while general fans from banned nations remain barred.
đź“Š Relevant Data
More than 5,000 Afghans brought to the US after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have been flagged for national security issues by the Department of Homeland Security.
Over 5K Afghan migrants flagged on 'national security' grounds since 2021, document reveals — New York Post
Immigrants in the United States commit crimes at lower rates than the US-born population.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Through July of Fiscal Year 2024, approximately 139 individuals on the terrorism watchlist were encountered at the US-Mexico border.
Homeland Threat Assessment 2025 — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
đź“Š Analysis & Commentary (2)
"The piece critiques the Trump administration’s plan to broaden travel bans and visa restrictions as a blunt, counterproductive approach that endangers the U.S. economy, scientific enterprise and diplomatic standing, and urges a shift to targeted vetting and narrower security measures rather than blanket bans."
"The column critiques the Trump administration’s push for broad, country‑level travel and asylum bans—arguing they are ineffective, legally and diplomatically risky, economically damaging, and that smarter, targeted vetting would better serve security and humanitarian goals."
đź“° Sources (5)
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the travel ban expansion will cover 'over 30' countries, shifting from deliberation to confirmation.
- Noem declined to name countries or a start date, saying President Trump is still evaluating which to include.
- She articulated criteria: countries lacking stable governments or the ability to help vet travelers should not have their citizens admitted.
- Context reiterated: this expansion builds on the June policy (12 fully barred, 7 restricted) and follows post‑shooting measures (halted asylum decisions, Afghan visa pause, shortened EAD validity).
- Current scope described: 12 countries barred from entry and seven with heightened restrictions (total 19).
- For the World Cup, specific exceptions apply to athletes, coaches, essential support roles and immediate relatives; general fans from banned nations remain barred.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated Monday she will recommend a 'full travel ban' on additional countries.
- Multiple U.S. officials told CBS the administration is considering expanding the travel ban to around 30 countries (up from 19).
- Kristi Noem’s post‑meeting X statement explicitly urging a 'full travel ban' is quoted.
- DHS reiterated it will announce new additions to the list 'soon.'
- After meeting with President Trump, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged a 'full travel ban' on multiple countries, using explicit language in a post on X.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had already announced a travel ban covering 19 countries months ago and that Noem is recommending widening it.
- DHS told Axios it would be 'announcing the list soon,' but did not specify which countries.
- The article ties the recommendation to last week’s USCIS review of green‑card holders from 19 'countries of concern' and references the June proclamation underpinning those restrictions.