WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has suspended approval for most visitor visas for Palestinian passport holders, according to a State Department memo reported by multiple media outlets.
The internal cable, dated Aug. 18, instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to reject nonimmigrant visas for “all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders” using that passport to apply. The policy is reportedly effective immediately.
The suspension applies to visas for tourists, students, business travelers, and individuals seeking medical treatment, extending beyond previously announced restrictions for Palestinians from Gaza. The policy would also affect Palestinians seeking to enter the United States from the West Bank or elsewhere in the Palestinian diaspora.
A State Department spokesperson said the administration is taking steps in line with U.S. law and national security, noting that each visa decision is being evaluated accordingly.
The policy follows an announcement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that visas would be denied or revoked for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
The State Department said the measures are intended to hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for failing to meet prior commitments and undermining prospects for peace.
