Washington / PNN /
The New York Times reported Monday that the United States has suspended visitor visas for holders of Palestinian passports. Citing U.S. officials, the newspaper said the Trump administration issued a decision to halt approval of nearly all types of visitor visas for Palestinians.
The move follows Washington’s cancellation of visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other Palestinian officials ahead of the high-level meetings of the United Nations General Assembly later this month. According to four U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, a more comprehensive directive, issued in a cable dated August 18, was sent by the State Department to all U.S. embassies and consulates. It is intended to prevent many Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and the diaspora from entering the United States on various non-immigrant visas.
The new measures, the report said, cover visas for medical treatment, higher education, visiting family or friends, and temporary work. The reasons for the restrictions were not immediately clear, but they come after allies of the United States announced plans to recognize the State of Palestine in the coming weeks—a move opposed by many U.S. officials and condemned by Israel. The restrictions apply to all Palestinian passport holders, but not to dual nationals using other passports or those who have already obtained visas.
The U.S. State Department confirmed it had instructed diplomats to implement the new restrictions, saying in a statement that the administration is taking “concrete steps in compliance with U.S. law and national security regarding announced visa restrictions” for Palestinians.
Commenting on the new U.S. measure, Hala Rarit, who served as the Arabic-language spokeswoman for the State Department until resigning in April 2024 in protest of U.S. policy on the Gaza war, called it “an open rejection.”
Kerry Doyle, former chief attorney at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Biden administration, said the government should be transparent about its decision-making process. “If this is an actual ban, it’s concerning to me. They should clarify it and then present their rationale for such a prohibition,” she said. “Is there a genuine national security concern, or is it political, to support Israel or avoid uncomfortable issues when people arrive and talk about the war? Why not simply place names on a visa ban list?”
The U.S. decision to bar entry for Palestinian passport holders and cancel visas for Palestinian officials comes amid rising international outrage over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, worsening humanitarian crises, and famine in the besieged territory. The situation has prompted several countries, including France, to announce plans to recognize the State of Palestine at this month’s UN General Assembly.
