DOJO — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has recommended that the Trump administration expand its travel ban to 30–32 countries, up from the current list of 19 nations, officials told DOJO. The recommendation comes amid heightened concerns about immigration and national security following a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C.
The Proposed Travel Ban
Noem told reporters she advised President Donald Trump to enact a “full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.”
The current list of 19 countries includes Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and several others. It is not yet clear which additional countries will be added under the proposed expansion or when the ban would take effect.
Context: D.C. Shooting Spurs Crackdown
The travel ban recommendation follows the November 27 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in which Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who resettled in the U.S. under Biden-era programs and was later granted asylum under the Trump administration.
Following the shooting, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) paused all immigration and asylum approvals for nationals from the 19 countries, pending a full review of vetting procedures. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said this pause would remain in effect “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
Trump’s Immigration Measures
In addition to Noem’s recommendation, Trump has proposed:
- Reviewing all green cards issued to individuals from affected countries
- Pausing asylum decisions until enhanced vetting measures are in place
- Permanently halting migration from what he describes as “third-world countries”
Trump has repeatedly cited concerns about insufficient screening, arguing that some migrants pose threats to U.S. security and public resources.
Political and Humanitarian Response
Noem’s comments and the broader immigration crackdown have drawn criticism from refugee advocacy groups and lawmakers, who stress that the actions may unfairly target entire communities for the actions of individuals.
The Afghan Community Coalition of the United States urged the administration not to delay or suspend Afghan immigration claims, emphasizing that one person’s actions should not overshadow decades of U.S.-Afghan partnership.
The UN has also called on the U.S. to uphold international agreements on asylum seekers.
