Trump administration expands travel ban to over 30 countries, citing security concerns – NaturalNews.com

• The Trump administration plans to add over 30 countries to its existing travel ban list, citing national security concerns. The current ban already restricts entry from 12 nations (e.g., Afghanistan, Iran, Libya) and imposes visa limits on seven others (e.g., Cuba, Venezuela).
• Officials argue the expansion is necessary due to unstable governments, insufficient vetting, high visa overstay rates and refusal to repatriate deportees. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that countries unable to properly vet migrants pose “unacceptable risks.”
• The decision follows a Nov. 26 attack in Washington, D.C., allegedly carried out by an Afghan national admitted under a Biden-era resettlement program. Trump has vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he calls “third-world countries.”
• Civil rights groups and international organizations condemn the ban as discriminatory, disproportionately targeting Muslim-majority and African nations. The African Union Commission has called for a more consultative approach.
• The ban aligns with Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, including deportations, asylum restrictions and cuts to benefits for noncitizens. While supporters argue it’s necessary for security, critics warn it violates international norms and risks alienating allies.

The Trump administration is preparing to significantly expand its controversial travel ban, adding more than 30 countries to a list of nations facing entry restrictions, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Dec. 4.

The move, framed as a national security necessity, follows heightened scrutiny of immigration policies after a recent attack in Washington, D.C., allegedly carried out by an Afghan national admitted under a Biden-era resettlement program. Noem linked the expanded ban to concerns over unstable governments, insufficient vetting procedures and soaring asylum backlogs—issues she blamed squarely on the previous administration.

The current U.S. travel ban, enacted in June 2025, already restricts entry from 12 countries—including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Somalia—while imposing visa limitations on seven others, such as Cuba and Venezuela. The administration argues these measures are necessary due to high visa overstay rates, terrorism risks and foreign governments’ refusal to repatriate deportees.

Noem did not specify which new nations would be added but emphasized that countries lacking stable governance or reliable vetting systems pose unacceptable risks.

“If they don’t have a stable government there, if they don’t have a country that can sustain itself and tell us who those individuals are and help us vet them, why should we allow people from that country to come here to the United States?” she said in a Fox News interview.

The expansion follows a Nov. 26 shooting in Washington, D.C., where an Afghan national—reportedly admitted in 2021—allegedly killed two National Guard members. The incident intensified calls for stricter immigration controls, with Trump vowing to “permanently pause” migration from what he termed “third-world countries,” including those he described as “out of control,” like Somalia.

Criticism and legal challenges loom

Civil rights groups and international organizations have condemned the expanded ban as discriminatory, arguing it disproportionately targets Muslim-majority and African nations. The African Union Commission has urged a more consultative approach, while refugee advocates accuse the administration of exploiting security fears to justify exclusionary policies.

Despite the backlash, the Trump administration insists the ban is narrowly tailored to address specific security gaps. Unlike the chaotic rollout of the 2017 travel ban—which sparked mass protests and legal injunctions—this iteration was carefully structured to withstand judicial scrutiny, avoiding explicit religious or nationality-based language.

The travel ban expansion aligns with Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which, according to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, has prioritized deportations, asylum restrictions and cuts to federal benefits for noncitizens. Since returning to office in 2025, his administration has deployed federal agents to major cities, accelerated border turnbacks and scrutinized Green Cards and asylum approvals processed under Biden.

Noem has been a vocal advocate for these measures, declaring on social media: “Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS. WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.”

The expanded travel ban marks another escalation in the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, reinforcing its focus on national security over humanitarian concerns. While supporters argue the measures are vital to prevent threats, critics warn they risk further alienating allies and violating international norms. As legal challenges mount and diplomatic tensions simmer, the debate over how to balance security with compassion remains unresolved—ensuring immigration will stay at the forefront of U.S. political discourse.

Watch the video below that talks about Trump’s travel ban for high-risk nations.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com