The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to significantly broaden its travel ban, according to information published by the tabloid The Sun. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated that more than 30 countries could potentially be affected by the new restrictions.
The current ban, in place since June, targets 12 countries and imposes additional limitations on seven others. It was initially justified on national security grounds following a suspected terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, involving an Egyptian national.
The proposed expansion comes as authorities investigate the shooting death of Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member killed in Washington on Thanksgiving night.
An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal—who previously served in an Afghan military unit that worked alongside U.S. forces—was arrested and has pleaded not guilty.
Restrictions on the 19 countries already covered by the initial proclamation have reportedly been strengthened. According to The U.S. Sun, the measures would include halting certain asylum decisions, freezing visas for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces, and shortening the validity period of work permits for refugees and asylum seekers.
More than 30 countries under consideration, but no list yet
Asked about the expansion on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the possibility but did not specify which countries might be included.
“I’m not going to give an exact number, but it’s more than 30,” she told host Laura Ingraham.
A DHS spokesperson said the full list would be made public “soon,” without providing any specific timeline.
In recent weeks, Kristi Noem has made a series of inflammatory statements about immigration. The U.S. Sun reports that she called for “a total ban on all countries that are flooding our nation with murderers, parasites, and freeloaders.”
Concerns over the impact
The potential expansion has raised alarm among several governments and immigration-focused NGOs, who fear consequences for thousands of families, skilled workers, and students.
DHS maintains that the restrictions are intended to “strengthen national security” and ensure “more rigorous screening procedures.”
However, analysts interviewed by The U.S. Sun warn that the consequences could reach far beyond those aims—disrupting academic exchanges, slowing down family reunification cases, and creating uncertainty for individuals already legally present in the United States.
Although its citizens are not considered dangerous by U.S. authorities, Haiti is among the countries flagged by the Trump administration. It also appears on the list of nations whose citizens face a suspension of asylum applications, residency filings, and U.S. citizenship requests.
This could have serious implications for the 2026 World Cup, in which Haiti’s national team is set to compete in June.
Many Haitians may end up unable to attend the event.
Credit: The Daily Beast
