Related videos:
The Trump administration is considering expanding the travel ban to citizens from at least 30 or 32 countries, a measure suggested by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, as part of a new effort to tighten immigration controls.
The proposal, deemed by many as drastic and politically motivated, arises following a violent episode that has reignited tensions surrounding the immigration system.
The trigger was the recent shooting that took place in Washington D.C., where Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan immigrant, opened fire on two members of the National Guard, one of whom died.
Lakanwal had been resettled in the United States after collaborating with U.S. troops in Afghanistan. His asylum application was approved during the Trump administration, but the resettlement was finalized under the Biden administration.
Since then, his case has been used by Republican sectors to question the alleged leniency of the current immigration system.
For them, the crime highlights failures in security measures and has served as a basis to justify a significant expansion of the current immigration ban.
In response, Secretary Kristi Noem urged President Trump to act decisively:
"I recommend a total ban on travel to all countries that have been flooding our nation with murderers, leeches, and rights addicts," he stated on his X account.
And it went further, noting that: “Our ancestors built this nation with blood, sweat, and an unbreakable love for freedom, not for foreign invaders to massacre our heroes… WE DO NOT WANT THEM. NOT A SINGLE ONE.”
This narrative, supported by openly hostile language, marks a continuation of the nationalistic and restrictive tone that characterized Trump's first term.
A list that could exceed 30 countries
Currently, the United States maintains total or partial entry restrictions for citizens of 19 countries, a policy outlined in presidential proclamation 10949 dated June 4, 2025.
Noem's recommendation aims to increase that number to between 30 and 32 countries, although the complete list has not yet been revealed.
According to sources cited by CNN, the measure would not only be a reactive response to the crime that occurred, but also part of a broader reassessment of the immigration system:
"The list could continue to expand based on ongoing assessments, but it is unclear which countries will be added or when they will be announced," the outlet reported.
For its part, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed: "We will announce the list soon."
Countries currently under restrictions
The current list distinguishes between countries with a total entry ban and those with partial or limited restrictions:
Total restriction (12 countries):
Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Partial restriction (7 countries):
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Restrictions vary by country. In some cases, such as Cuba and Venezuela, exemptions apply if the applicant holds dual nationality or diplomatic visas (such as the A-1 or G-4 classifications, among others).
Official justifications: Security and cooperation
The justification provided for including these countries on the list has revolved around alleged issues of security, international cooperation, and documentation identification.
In the case of Cuba, the U.S. government considers it a "state sponsor of terrorism" and argues that Havana refuses to accept the repatriation of deported citizens and does not share police information with the U.S.
Venezuela, for its part, has been accused of lacking a "central authority" capable of issuing reliable civil documents and of having a high overstay rate for temporary visas (9.83% for B-1/B-2 visas).
Suspension of applications and review of previous cases
In addition to the proposed expansion, immediate actions have been announced by the immigration agencies.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has immediately suspended all immigration applications from the 19 currently restricted countries.
Similarly, approved green cards already issued to citizens of those nations will be reexamined.
The director of USCIS, Joe Edlow, stated that an updated guideline will be applied that will allow certain national factors to be considered as elements of "significant negative weight."
“We will pause all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every foreigner is investigated and examined to the fullest extent possible,” Edlow stated.
The DHS also confirmed that it is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, in an effort to further tighten immigration assessment criteria.
The precedent of 2017 and an even more radical turn
Trump had already implemented a travel ban in 2017, known as the "Muslim Ban," which initially affected seven majority-Muslim countries and was expanded during his term.
Although it faced harsh criticism and was the subject of multiple legal lawsuits, the Supreme Court partially validated it.
However, the current rhetoric and the proposed expansion suggest an even more radical approach.
Noem and Trump do not hide their intentions.
The former president has even threatened to “permanently pause” immigration from what he described as “Third World countries,” without specifying which ones would be included.
Conclusion: A twist that would impact millions
If this new expansion is approved, millions of people in at least a dozen additional countries could have their access to the U.S. blocked, whether for tourism, family reunification, or asylum applications.
Even without knowing the complete list, the proposal has raised alarms among human rights advocates and migrant communities.
What began as a reaction to an individual crime could turn into one of the broadest and most severe immigration restrictions in recent U.S. history, with profound diplomatic and humanitarian consequences.
Filed under: