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New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation of his administration's immigration crackdown, US President Donald Trump is reportedly on the verge of implementing a significantly expanded travel ban, potentially barring entry to foreign nationals from more than two dozen additional countries. The move, currently in its final stages of discussion, follows closely on the heels of an attack on two National Guard members in Washington, DC, last week.
Sources close to the administration suggest that at least 30 nations are being considered for inclusion on a revised restricted list, with the possibility of further additions over time. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed an updated list would be released "shortly," signalling a profound tightening of US immigration and security protocols.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem offered a fiery preview of the proposed changes, revealing on X that she had advocated for a "full travel ban" during a meeting with President Trump. Her post minced no words, recommending the inclusion of "every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies" onto the restricted list.
"Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom – not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes or drain tax dollars," Noem wrote, encapsulating the administration's hardline stance. "WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE."
Direct response to the DC attack
The aggressive proposal is presented as a direct consequence of the recent assault on two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, DC. The attacker was identified as Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Lakanwal reportedly entered the US legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program and was granted asylum in April, making him eligible for a green card next year.
In the wake of this incident, the government has already taken sweeping measures. All asylum decisions have been halted, and a rigorous re-examination of over 720,000 green card holders from 19 "countries of concern" has commenced. The State Department has also put a pause on visas for individuals travelling on Afghan passports.
Citizenship under scrutiny
Further highlighting the severity of the administration's response, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended naturalisation ceremonies for certain nationals hailing from countries already on existing travel ban lists. Reports indicate that citizenship ceremonies for individuals from Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan were abruptly cancelled following the National Guard shooting.
A DHS spokesperson reiterated the administration's commitment to national security, stating they would take “no chances when the future of our nation is at stake," and emphasised that citizenship is "a privilege, not a right."
A pattern of restrictions
This potential expansion follows a June proclamation by President Trump that fully restricted entry from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Somalia, and partially restricted entry from seven others. That order was issued after an antisemitic firebombing in Colorado, allegedly perpetrated by an Egyptian national holding an expired tourist visa.
The current list of 19 countries facing full or partial restrictions includes Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Trump specifically reiterated his strong criticism of immigration from Somalia, a nation already on the existing restricted list.
