Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is calling for a full travel ban on countries she says are sending criminals and welfare dependents into the United States.
Her proposal comes days after the Thanksgiving eve attack that killed one National Guard member and critically wounded another in Washington, D.C.
Noem announced the recommendation after meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday.
She wrote on X that she is urging a “full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.” She said America was built on sacrifice and freedom, not by what she described as foreign nationals who come to “slaughter our heroes” or drain public resources.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Post that a full list of affected countries will be announced soon.
The push marks another escalation in the administration’s immigration crackdown following the shooting carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal. He is a 29-year-old Afghan national who allegedly opened fire on two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The administration has already paused all asylum decisions. It is also reexamining the legal status of more than 720,000 green card holders from 19 countries of concern.
The State Department has halted the issuance of visas for anyone traveling on Afghan passports. USCIS has also stopped processing all Afghan-related immigration requests, including asylum, work permits, and naturalization.
According to DHS, Lakanwal entered the United States legally in 2021 through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. The initiative brought in tens of thousands of Afghan nationals after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.
Noem said the program relied on mass parole and weak vetting that allowed dangerous individuals to enter the country. She refused to repeat the suspect’s name, saying he should not receive the attention he may want.
Noem’s call aligns with Trump’s own proposals. Last week, the president said he would permanently pause migration from all so-called third world countries and begin removing foreign nationals who are not contributing to the country. He said these steps are needed to reverse what he described as years of unmanaged immigration. Trump also warned that he would target any migrant who undermines public safety or national cohesion.
In recent weeks, the administration has moved quickly to impose visa restrictions on foreign nationals linked to crime, welfare fraud, or illegal immigration networks. That includes revoking temporary protections for Somalis living in Minnesota and sanctioning Nicaraguan officials and business owners accused of helping migrants travel illegally to the United States.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also announced visa limits on foreign officials who fail to enforce immigration laws.
Noem said Monday that the latest attack shows why stronger measures are needed. She added that the United States will no longer accept individuals from countries that put Americans at risk.