restrictions
ISLAMABAD: United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem hasdisclosed that the Trump administration intends to include more than thirtyadditional countries in its expanded travel ban programme, marking one ofthe most significant tightening of immigration controls since the originalmeasures were introduced in 2017.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Secretary Noem statedthat the Department of Homeland Security is actively reviewing countrieswhose nationals pose potential security risks to the United States. “I amnot going to give an exact number but it is more than thirty, and PresidentTrump will continue to evaluate countries,” she said, confirming that newrestrictions could be imposed in the coming months.
The announcement follows a deadly shooting incident near the White House on26 November in which a 29-year-old Afghan national, who had entered theUnited States in 2021 under humanitarian parole and later received asylum,killed one National Guard member and wounded another. Reports indicate theattacker had previously worked with several US government agencies,including the Central Intelligence Agency, during the Afghanistanevacuation operations.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the administration suspended allnew visa issuances and refugee resettlement cases involving Afghannationals. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered a comprehensivereview of existing travel restrictions that currently apply to citizens ofnineteen countries deemed to present elevated security concerns.
The proposed expansion would represent the largest single addition to thetravel ban framework since its inception. While Secretary Noem declined toname the countries under consideration, sources familiar with thedeliberations suggest the list includes nations with weak passportcontrols, high levels of terrorist activity, or inadequateinformation-sharing arrangements with Washington.
Immigration advocates have expressed alarm at the potential scope of thenew measures, warning that they could affect millions of travellers andfurther strain diplomatic relations with affected countries. The Departmentof Homeland Security maintains that the policy is driven solely by nationalsecurity imperatives and compliance with statutory vetting requirements.
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The White House has indicated that formal announcements regarding specificcountries will be made following completion of inter-agency reviewsexpected early next year.
Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-considering-adding-more-30-countries-travel-ban-list-dhs-chief-says-2025-12-05/Source:https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-travel-ban-expansion
Tags: United States, Trump Administration, Homeland Security, Travel Ban,Afghanistan, Immigration
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