Diplomatic Cables Reveal Scramble to Implement Trump’s Journey Ban

WASHINGTON — Newly launched diplomatic cables present the Trump administration shifting swiftly in June and July to implement a sweeping journey ban affecting nationals of 19 international locations, with inner directions starting from how you can deny pupil visas to exceptions for Olympic athletes and persecuted minorities in Iran.

The cables (hooked up), obtained by the Red Eagle Law Firm by means of litigation, present an unusually detailed window into the State Department’s behind-the-scenes efforts to hold out President Donald Trump’s June 4 proclamation suspending entry from international locations deemed nationwide safety dangers.

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The preliminary June 8 cable ordered U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to tell host governments that entry and visa issuance for nationals of 12 international locations — together with Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — was being totally suspended, with partial suspensions for seven others, together with Cuba, Venezuela and Laos.

Posts had been advised to ship “demarche points” stressing that the suspensions had been within the U.S. nationwide curiosity, whereas outlining slender exemptions. Those included lawful everlasting residents, twin nationals touring on third-country passports, adoption visas, Afghan and U.S. authorities particular immigrant visas, and, in a notable carve-out, “any athlete … traveling for the FIFA World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event”.

A follow-up June 9 cable laid out a course of for “National Interest Exceptions,” or NIEs, which chiefs of mission might request on behalf of people whose journey was deemed important. The steerage harassed such approvals ought to be “rare” and framed in “America First” phrases, permitting journey solely in “exceptional” circumstances.

Examples included pressing medical therapy, regulation enforcement cooperation, and participation in skilled sports activities competitions. By distinction, visas for household visits, training, or routine enterprise had been explicitly dominated out. “A connection to a U.S. citizen … is not sufficient grounds for an NIE,” the cable said.

On June 16, the State Department clarified that the “major sports” exception utilized particularly to the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, and the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, in addition to different occasions designated by the secretary of state.

Only athletes, coaches, help employees, and their rapid relations certified. Accredited media, sponsors, and spectators didn’t. Posts had been reminded that they might as a substitute search nationwide curiosity waivers for these vacationers.

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A fourth cable, dated July 18, issued steerage on one of many proclamation’s extra uncommon provisions: an exception for “ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.” Adjudicators had been instructed to proceed processing visas for members of teams together with Ahwazi Arabs, Baha’i, Kurds, Jews, Christians, Sufi and Sunni Muslims, and Zoroastrians.

Applicants didn’t want to indicate individualized persecution, however consular officers had been advised to doc proof and cite State Department human rights experiences. Visas qualifying underneath this exception had been to be annotated “Excepted from PP Restricting Entry”.

Taken collectively, the cables spotlight each the scope of Trump’s journey restrictions and the complexity of their implementation — from international demarches to fine-grained choices about soccer gamers and spiritual minorities. They additionally underscore the administration’s reliance on 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the identical authorized provision utilized in Trump’s first-term journey bans.

The paperwork don’t seize how overseas governments responded to the demarches, however they present a division underneath orders to steadiness the president’s sweeping directive with a patchwork of exceptions.

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