AP
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration plans to expand its travel ban to include citizens of more than 30 countries, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday, marking the latest escalation of restrictions following the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members.
The new expansion would build on a ban announced in June, which prohibited travel to the U.S. for citizens of 12 countries and imposed additional restrictions on travelers from seven others. Noem had hinted earlier this week on social media that more nations would be added.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Noem declined to provide specifics, saying President Donald Trump is still determining which countries will be included in the broadened restrictions.
After the National Guard shooting, the administration had already tightened rules for the 19 countries included in the initial ban — a list that includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Haiti.
During the interview, Ingraham pressed Noem on whether the expanded ban would cover 32 countries and which nations might be added, but Noem did not elaborate.
