The United States plans to increase the number of countries subject to the travel ban to more than 30, according to the announcement made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday (04/12/2025).
During a television interview with Fox News, Noem avoided confirming whether the new number would reach 32 countries or the names of all countries, but he indicated that President Donald Trump continues to evaluate “which countries will be included for security reasons.”
Since June, the government has maintained a declaration prohibiting the entry of citizens from 12 countries and restricting the entry of seven other countries, under the pretext of preventing the entry of “foreign terrorists” and other threats.
These measures affect both migrants and temporary visitors, including tourists, students and business travellers.
Noem did not give details about the countries that could join the list, but he justified the expansion by saying that there are no stable governments capable of providing reliable information about their citizens.
American media talk about as many as 36 countries
Over the past week, various US media outlets have reported that the Trump administration is considering vetoing the entry of citizens from up to 36 additional countries, according to anonymous sources within the State Department.
The ban measures will be based on the armed attack against two members of the National Guard last Wednesday in the US capital.
The attack focuses on the suspect, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021 under a resettlement program that, according to the Trump administration, lacks adequate controls.
After the attack, the president promised to suspend immigration from “third world countries” “permanently,” without specifying which countries.
Since taking office in January, Trump has continued to aggressively enforce immigration laws, sending federal agents to major Democratic-run cities and toughening the treatment of asylum seekers at the border with Mexico.
JC (EFE, Reuters)