December 5,2025
RED FM News Desk
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the Trump administration plans to expand its travel restrictions to more than 30 countries, following the recent case in which an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members.
This expansion builds on a travel ban announced in June that blocked entry to the U.S. for citizens of 12 countries and imposed additional restrictions on seven more. Earlier this week, Noem hinted online that even more nations would be added.
In an interview Thursday with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Noem declined to give specifics, saying President Donald Trump is still deciding which countries will be included.
After the National Guard shooting, the administration had already tightened restrictions on the 19 countries in the original ban, which include Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Haiti.
When Ingraham asked whether the list would grow to 32 countries, Noem replied, “I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30. And the president is continuing to evaluate countries.” She added that nations without stable governments or proper identification systems should not expect their citizens to be allowed into the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on when the updated ban will take effect or which countries will be added.
The move is the latest in a rapid series of immigration restrictions following the Thanksgiving-week shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically injuring Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. He has pleaded not guilty.
The administration says tougher vetting is necessary to ensure safety, while critics argue that people who have already passed extensive screening are being unfairly targeted.
In just over a week, the administration has suspended asylum decisions, paused immigration benefit processing for people from the 19 banned countries, and stopped issuing visas to Afghans who aided the U.S. military. On Thursday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also shortened the validity period of work permits for groups such as refugees and asylum seekers, requiring more frequent renewals and additional vetting.
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