US Expands Travel Ban and Tightens Immigration Policies

The U.S. is planning to expand its travel ban to more than 30 countries.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned this during an interview, saying the president is evaluating which countries to add.

The current ban affects 19 countries, and the administration is considering adding 36 more.

This expansion comes after a recent shooting involving an Afghan national who entered the U.S. through a resettlement program.

The Trump administration is also reviewing asylum cases and green card applications from these countries to ensure only the most trustworthy individuals receive citizenship or permanent residency.

Additionally, the U.S. is tightening its immigration policies, including introducing a one-time fee of USD 100,000 on new H-1B visa applications and mandatory social media checks for H-1B visa applicants and their dependents.

Over 1.5 million people with pending asylum applications and over 50,000 who received asylum under the Biden administration may be affected by these changes.