Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem escalated the administration’s immigration rhetoric on Monday, formally recommending a “full travel ban” on specific nations she claims are draining American resources and threatening public safety.
Following a meeting with President Trump, Noem took to X to announce her proposal, using stark language to describe immigrants from unspecified countries. She characterized these nations as “flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.”
“Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS,” Noem wrote. She concluded the post with an emphatic rejection of such entrants: “WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.”
READ: White House Clears Up ‘Mystery’ MRI: Trump’s Heart, Abdominal Imaging Deemed ‘Perfectly Normal’
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet clarified which specific countries would be targeted by the proposed ban. President Trump shared Noem’s statement on Truth Social without adding personal commentary, though the proposal aligns with his recent policy pivots.
The push for tighter restrictions comes in the immediate aftermath of a shooting in Washington that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured. The suspect, identified by DHS as an Afghan national who entered the U.S. legally in September 2021, has become a focal point for the administration’s renewed crackdown.
In response to the attack, President Trump declared a need to “re-examine every single alien” who arrived from Afghanistan during the Biden administration. He subsequently suggested a plan to “permanently pause” immigration from what he termed “third-world countries.”
READ: Noem Says Terrorist Was ‘Radicalized Here’: Death Penalty Sought After National Guard Ambush
If enacted, Noem’s recommendation would expand an already aggressive immigration framework. In June, the President signed a proclamation barring nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia.
Additionally, the administration recently cut the annual refugee admissions cap to a historic low of 7,500, with federal memos indicating a prioritization of white South Africans for the remaining slots.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
