Noem urges Trump for wider travel ban, will it happen?
By Easton Martin | December 2, 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing for a substantially broader travel ban following the recent fatal shooting of a National Guard member near the White House. Noem has urged President Trump to consider what she described as a “full travel ban on every damn country” that she claims sends criminals and dangerous individuals into the United States.
Her remarks came in direct response to the Washington, D.C. shooting involving an Afghan national who entered the United States under a prior refugee program. The incident has triggered a wave of calls inside the administration for tougher immigration limits and intensified vetting standards. The Biden era resettlement policies have been singled out by Trump officials as a primary source of the perceived security risk.
Noem points out that the United States is being flooded with “killers” and “leeches” who take advantage of American freedoms and social services. Supporters within the administration say a more aggressive approach to entry restrictions is needed to prevent further attacks and to ensure that law enforcement is not overwhelmed by foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds.
Civil rights organizations and refugee advocates accuse Noem of fear mongering and dehumanizing large populations of lawful migrants. They also argue that broader travel restrictions could disproportionately affect families and individuals with no ties to crime or terrorism.
