Khaberni - CBS News reported, citing US officials, that President Trump's administration is considering widening the scope of the "travel ban" which restricts or prohibits entry from 19 countries to about 30 countries.
The Trump administration is working on expanding the entry ban to the United States following the shooting of two members of the national guard in Washington D.C. last week.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the "x" platform on Tuesday that she recommended President Trump impose a "full travel ban" during a meeting on Monday.
In the post, she stated: "I just met with the president.. I recommend imposing a comprehensive ban on travel to every country that floods our nation with killers and benefit addicts".
The secretary added: "Our ancestors built this nation with blood, sweat and unwavering love of freedom.. Not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes or suck away the money hard earned by taxpayers, or snatch the benefits due to Americans".
She concluded her post, seen by nearly 8 million people, saying: "We do not want them.. and we do not want any of them".
When contacted, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the complete list of countries affected by Noem's recommendation would be published soon.
While Noem did not specifically identify the countries that her proposed ban would target, the White House had previously imposed partial restrictions on 19 countries.
In June, a memorandum from the White House imposed restrictions on immigration from 19 "concerning" countries including Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Noem's comments follow the shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington D.C. last Wednesday, which was followed by the Trump administration taking strict measures on immigration.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indefinitely suspended processing of immigration applications from Afghans.
Rahman Allah Lakanoval, the suspect in the shooting of US Airwoman Sarah Bickstrom and Sergeant Andrew Wolf from the US Air Force, is an Afghan national who entered the country in 2021 through a program designated for those who helped the United States during its two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) said on Monday that Bickstrom (20 years old) died on Thursday from her injuries.
