The United States is preparing to significantly expand its list of countries subject to strict travel restrictions, a move that has drawn immediate condemnation from immigration advocates and legislators. Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), revealed the plan, stating the ban would soon apply to nationals from more than 30 countries.
Details of the Expanded Restrictions
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on 5 December 2025, Secretary Noem confirmed the administration's intention to widen the existing policy. "I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries," she stated. The expansion builds upon the current list of 19 nations already facing bans, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, and Somalia.
The restrictions apply comprehensively to both immigrants and non-immigrants, such as tourists, students, and business travellers. Noem did not specify which additional countries would be added to the proscribed list. The announcement follows reports that naturalisation ceremonies for individuals from the originally banned countries are being cancelled, and new applications from those nations are being halted.
Broader Immigration Crackdown and Reaction
This planned escalation forms part of a wider suite of contentious immigration measures pursued by the administration. The policy shift gained momentum after the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. Immigration groups and lawmakers have sharply criticised the expansion, arguing it represents a severe and unjustified hardening of US border and entry policy.
The travel ban news emerged alongside other significant developments from the Trump administration on 5 December, including:
- The US Supreme Court agreeing to decide on the legality of President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship.
- A state department memo directing consular officials to deny visas to individuals deemed responsible for "censorship" of protected expression in the US, a move reportedly targeting fact-checkers and content moderators.
- A policy document laying bare Washington's support for Europe's far-right parties, arguing the EU faces "civilisational erasure" from immigration.
Additional Headlines from a Busy Day
The day's events also included a CDC advisory panel voting to limit hepatitis B vaccines for newborns, a federal judge ordering the release of grand jury materials related to Jeffrey Epstein under a new act signed by Trump, and a deadly incident in the Caribbean where survivors of a US airstrike were reportedly killed in a second attack.
In political commentary, Somali-born Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar responded to President Trump's recent anti-Somali remarks, writing that he lashes out with bigotry because he "knows he is failing." In a lighter note, Donald Trump was named the first winner of the newly created FIFA peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC.
The cumulative effect of these policies signals a pronounced and controversial shift in the United States' approach to immigration, global engagement, and domestic social policy, with repercussions likely to be felt internationally.
