The United States is weighing a major expansion of its travel ban, potentially adding more than 30 countries to the list of restricted nations.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the development in an interview with Fox News, saying: “I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30, and the President (Donald Trump) is continuing to evaluate countries.”
An existing executive order already restricts entry from 19 countries, divided into three categories:
Full Travel Ban – Citizens completely barred from immigrant and non‑immigrant visas:
Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
Partial Travel Ban – Nationals restricted from immigrant, tourist, student, and exchange visitor visas: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
Under Review for Addition – Countries flagged for possible inclusion if vetting standards are not improved:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Why Expand the Ban?
Noem argued that the US should not admit immigrants from countries with unstable governments unable to vet individuals properly.
The debate intensified after a November 28 shooting near the White House, in which a 29‑year‑old Afghan national — granted asylum in April — killed a National Guard member and injured another. The US immediately suspended Afghan visa and asylum processing.
This incident revived scrutiny of Trump’s June executive order restricting entry from 19 countries due to vetting gaps, visa overstays, and deportation refusals.
The Department of Homeland Security has also rolled out a self‑deportation initiative via the CBP Home Mobile App.
The program offers illegal immigrants a free one‑way plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus for voluntarily leaving the country. Officials say the policy reduces the high costs of traditional deportations.
In parallel, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is establishing a new immigration vetting centre in Atlanta.
The centre will:
- Intensify screening of all visa applicants using advanced AI tools.
- Reassess previously approved cases.
- Prioritise reviews for applicants from “countries of concern.”
- Block potential security threats, fraudsters, and other “bad actors.”
Although Noem did not name specific countries under consideration, the administration is expected to issue updates soon.
The expansion is in line with Trump’s policy shift on immigration, combining stricter entry bans with advanced technology and incentives for voluntary deportation.
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