Diplomatic Cable Leak: US Orders Visa Halt for 75 Nations

A leaked diplomatic cable has exposed orders from the US State Department to halt immigrant visa processing for 75 nations. The Trump administration’s directive, set to take effect on January 21, cites “public charge” concerns as the reason for the indefinite suspension. The cable details strict instructions for consular officers worldwide.
The core instruction is to “refuse the case” if the visa has not been printed. This applies to all immigrant visa applicants from the listed countries. The directive removes discretion from officers, mandating a blanket refusal for any case that has not crossed the final administrative hurdle.
The list of countries is surprisingly broad, including many nations that are not typically associated with high rates of visa fraud or security threats. Instead, the focus is purely on the economic profile of the applicants. This shifts the basis of US immigration policy significantly.
Exceptions are carved out only for national interest waivers and dual nationals of exempt countries. The vast majority of applicants from the listed nations will find their path to the US blocked.
The countries named in the cable are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.