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The United States will expand the list of countries subject to travel bans and entry restrictions, a decision that could raise the total number to more than 30 nations, as confirmed this Thursday by Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, in statements to Fox News.
During an interview, Noem was asked whether the administration of President Donald Trump planned to expand the travel ban list to 32 countries.
Although she avoided providing an exact figure, she did confirm that the expansion will be significant. "I'm not going to specify a number, but it's more than 30, and the president is still evaluating countries," she stated.
The secretary justified the policy with a focus on the lack of institutional stability in certain regions.
"If they do not have a stable government there, if they do not have a country that can support itself and tell us who those people are and help us investigate them, why should we allow people from that country to come to the United States?" he expressed.
Noem did not specify which nations would be added.
The limitations affect both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business travelers.
The measure comes amid rising political tension and after months of internal evaluations.
In June, Trump signed a proclamation that bans entry to citizens from 12 countries and establishes partial restrictions for another seven, citing national security reasons in the face of threats from "foreign terrorists."
Reuters had previously reported that the administration was considering banning entry to citizens from 36 additional countries, according to an internal State Department memo, which already anticipated a significant expansion of the policy.
A twist after the shooting in Washington D.C.
The renewed push for immigration restrictions comes after the shooting in which two National Guard members were attacked in Washington D.C., an event that has had a significant political impact. One of the service members died.
The individual responsible was an Afghan citizen who entered the United States in 2021 through a resettlement program. Officials from the Trump administration have since questioned the rigor of the verification processes applied in that case.
Days after the attack, Trump promised to "permanently pause" migration from all third-world countries, without specifying which ones he meant, a statement that set the tone for the new decisions.
Background: a measure that has been in the works
The expansion of the immigration ban was already being considered by the administration and had been strongly promoted by Noem. In messages posted on her X account, the secretary defended a broader prohibition and used particularly harsh language.
I recommend a complete ban on travel to all countries that have been flooding our nation with murderers, parasites, and rights addicts," he stated.
In another post, he added: "Our ancestors built this nation with blood, sweat, and an unwavering love for freedom, not for foreign invaders to massacre our heroes... WE DO NOT WANT THEM. NOT A SINGLE ONE."
A list that already includes 19 countries
Currently, the United States maintains total or partial restrictions for citizens from 19 countries under presidential proclamation 10949, issued on June 4, 2025.
Total restrictions affect 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - face partial restrictions. In these cases, some exemptions apply for travelers with dual nationality or specific diplomatic visas, such as A-1 or G-4.
Washington argues that these restrictions are based on security issues, lack of government cooperation, and difficulties in verifying the identities of travelers.
In the case of Cuba, it justifies the measure by its designation as a "state sponsor of terrorism" and by the Cuban government's refusal to cooperate in repatriation processes.
Venezuela, on the other hand, is pointed out for lacking a central authority capable of issuing reliable civil documents.
Suspension of applications and case review
Alongside the potential expansion of the ban, immediate measures have been introduced.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended all immigration applications from the 19 currently restricted countries and ordered a reevaluation of the green cards already issued to citizens of those nations.
The director of USCIS, Joe Edlow, announced an update to the criteria that will allow certain national factors to be considered as "significant negative elements" in future assessments.
"We will pause all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every foreigner is investigated and examined to the fullest extent possible," he stated.
The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed that it is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, in an effort to further tighten the system's filters.
A more aggressive approach
Trump has openly expressed his intention to dramatically curb immigration from countries he considers risky, and Noem has also supported a similarly tough stance.
The absence of a definitive list leaves millions of people in uncertainty who may be barred from entering the United States, whether for tourism, family reunification, or asylum requests.
A measure with global impact
If approved, the extension of the migration ban would represent one of the most comprehensive restrictions in the recent history of the country.
Human rights organizations and migrant communities have expressed concern about the scope of the policy, which could have profound humanitarian and diplomatic implications.
What began as a reaction to a violent incident could transform into a large-scale change in U.S. immigration policy, with effects that will be felt far beyond its borders.
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