The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Reuters reports that the United States plans to widen its travel ban to more than 30 countries, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Friday.
Noem told Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle that the Trump
administration intends to expand the list to 32 countries, though she did not
specify which nations would be added.
Trump previously signed a proclamation in June barring
citizens of 12 countries from entering the U.S. and restricting travelers from
seven others, citing threats posed by “foreign terrorists.” The bans apply to
both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students and business
travelers.
“If they don’t have a stable government … and help us vet
them, why should we allow people from that country to come here?” Noem said.
Reuters earlier reported that an internal State Department
cable showed the administration was considering banning citizens of 36
additional countries. If enacted, the expansion would mark a significant
escalation in U.S. migration restrictions following last week’s deadly shooting
of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Investigators say the attack was carried out by an Afghan
national who entered the United States in 2021 through a resettlement program
that Trump officials argue lacked adequate vetting.
In response, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration
from all “Third World Countries,” though he did not name any specific nations.
The administration has also launched a sweeping review of
asylum cases approved under former President Joe Biden and green cards issued
to citizens of 19 countries.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has intensified
immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and
turning away asylum seekers at the southern border. While deportation
operations have been heavily publicized, the administration is now placing
greater emphasis on overhauling legal immigration as well
