US to expand travel ban — over 30 countries under review

Saturday, December 6, 2025 -The United States Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that the travel ban list will be expanded to include more than 30 countries, a major escalation of restrictions under Donald Trump’s administration. 

Kristi Noem, the DHS Secretary, said the administration continues to evaluate countries but declined to share the full list of additions or the exact number — only that it will exceed thirty.

Previously, a June 2025 proclamation had established full or partial travel restrictions for 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Venezuela, and others deemed high risk. 

The move to widen the ban comes in the wake of recent security concerns — notably a fatal shooting in Washington D.C. involving an Afghan national — which triggered renewed scrutiny over vetting procedures for immigrants and asylum seekers.

Noem emphasized that the measure targets countries she describes as “unstable” or unable to assist U.S. vetting efforts. She said that if a country cannot maintain a reliable government or provide verifiable information, the United States should not permit entry from that region. 

Immigration advocates and several lawmakers have already condemned the shift as overly broad, warning that it could affect innocent individuals, disrupt asylum processes, and destabilize families from nations already under heavy restriction.