Trump Administration Eyes Expansion of Travel Ban to Additional 30 Nations Following Incident Involving National Guard

The Trump administration is contemplating extending its current travel restrictions, which presently impact nationals from 19 countries, to as many as 30 countries following the recent National Guard-related incident in Washington, D.C., according to information cited by multiple U.S. officials to CBS News.

Officials noted that these deliberations are still in the preliminary stages and the final number of countries affected may alter. These insights were shared under the condition of anonymity as they involve private discussions.

Following her discussion with President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed urgency in implementing "a total travel blockade on all countries inundating our nation with criminals and people exploiting our systems."

Noem asserted in a statement on social media that "this nation was forged through sacrifice and a dedication to freedom—not for foreign entities to harm our defenders, drain our tax resources, or claim benefits set aside for American citizens."

The administration has referenced the Washington attack—allegedly conducted by an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in late 2021 and acquired asylum status by 2025—as a rationale to intensify its immigration restrictions. This has led to the halting of all visa and immigration processing for Afghans, a suspension on asylum verdicts across all nationalities, and an in-depth investigation into green card applications from nations already facing the ban.

The plans under review would expand the parameters of an earlier summer proclamation that largely curtailed or entirely banned legal entry and travel from 19 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa.

The earlier directive, dubbed both a travel prohibition by advocates and adversaries, nearly ceased all immigration from nations including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also partially limited entry from regions such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

At the announcement of the directive, Trump highlighted national security concerns, difficulties in thoroughly vetting individuals from some of these countries, and non-cooperation from certain countries regarding deportations as reasons for the restrictions.

The Department of Homeland Security, in a Tuesday statement, announced plans to soon disclose the list of new countries to be included under the expanded travel restrictions.