Noem Says Travel Ban Will Cover 'Over 30' Countries After June Restrictions

More than 30 countries will be included in the Trump administration's travel ban, expanding on a June policy that restricts entry for citizens of 19 countries, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during an interview with Fox News (Right bias).

The Details: Noem said the United States is moving to expand the travel ban to "over 30" countries, though she did not provide details about a specific list of countries in that interview. When asked on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" whether the travel ban would be increased to 32 countries, Noem said, "I won't be specific on the number, but it's over 30. And the president is continuing to evaluate countries."

"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?" Noem added.

For Context: In a social media post, Noem signaled earlier this week that more countries would be included in the travel ban, writing on X that she recommended a "full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies." On Tuesday, the Trump administration paused immigration applications from 19 countries and ordered a reexamination of green cards issued to people from those countries, affecting more than 720,000 holders. The move follows a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C., that wounded National Guard members; authorities say the suspect is an Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA and was granted asylum in the U.S. this year. 

How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum provided similar coverage. The Associated Press (Lean Left bias) highlighted key uncertainty at the Department of Homeland Security, noting that the federal agency "did not respond to requests for comment" from AP about when an updated travel ban could take effect and which countries would be added. Conversely, The New York Post (Lean Right) tied the expanded travel ban to the recent violent crime, writing that the move followed "the shooting of two National Guard members…by an Afghan national." The Hill (Center) pointed to what the administration said and what actions have already been taken.

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