The U.S. government plans to expand the number of countries covered by its travel ban to more than 30, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday.

In an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Noem declined to confirm an exact number but said the list would exceed 30 and that President Donald Trump is continuing to evaluate which countries should be included.

Noem said the administration is focused on countries that lack stable governments or the capacity to identify and vet their citizens reliably. She argued that if a nation cannot assist in security screening, the United States should not allow its citizens to enter without restrictions.

Trump signed a proclamation in June banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and placing partial restrictions on nationals of seven others. The measures apply to immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business travelers.

The administration has framed the actions as necessary to guard against threats posed by foreign extremists and individuals from countries with inadequate security controls.

Expansion under review

A previous internal government review had signaled that the administration was considering adding more than 30 additional countries to the list. The potential expansion would represent one of the broadest travel-ban efforts ever implemented by a U.S. administration.

The push gained momentum following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last week. Investigators say the shooter was an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 through a resettlement program that Trump officials argue lacked sufficient vetting.

Days after the attack, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he described as “Third World Countries,” though he did not identify any specific nations or define the term.

Broader shift in immigration priorities

Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security launched a sweeping review of asylum cases approved during the Biden administration and ordered re-examinations of green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.

Since returning to the office in January, Trump has prioritized aggressive immigration enforcement, sending federal personnel to major cities and sharply limiting access to the U.S.-Mexico border.

While the administration has repeatedly emphasized deportations and border operations, the widening travel ban illustrates a renewed focus on reshaping legal immigration as well.