The U.S. State Department has instructed its diplomats to halt the approval of most visa applications from Palestinians residing in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as from Palestinian passport holders living abroad.
According to an internal communication dated August 18 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all embassies and consulates have been directed to deny non-immigrant visas to all “qualified holders of Palestinian Authority passports” utilizing this passport to apply for a visa. The instructions were to be implemented “immediately.”
Non-immigrant visas encompass a wide variety of categories, including student, teacher, tourist, business, and medical treatment visas.
This comprehensive denial policy, first reported by The New York Times, is part of a series of measures enacted by the Trump administration aimed at restricting Palestinian access to the United States.
On August 16, the State Department announced a suspension of “all visit visas for individuals from Gaza” pending further review.
Additionally, on Friday, the agency announced the cancellation of visas and the denial of applications for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including President Mahmoud Abbas, ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
These restrictions come as several countries prepare to recognize a Palestinian state amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In the diplomatic cable, the State Department stated that this action is taken “to ensure that these applications are subject to the necessary vetting protocols to verify the identity of the applicant and their eligibility for a visa under U.S. law.”
A spokesperson for the State Department remarked, “The Trump administration is taking concrete steps in accordance with U.S. law and our national security regarding the announced visa restrictions and cancellations for holders of Palestinian Authority passports.”
They added, “Every visa decision pertains to national security, and the State Department reviews and makes determinations regarding visa applications from Palestinian Authority passport holders accordingly.”
The announcement clarified that this refusal policy does not apply to Palestinians seeking immigrant visas or those applying for non-immigrant visas using a different passport.
The directive also specifies that it includes applicants for diplomatic or official visas as well as individuals traveling for diplomatic and official purposes who are applying for visas with Palestinian Authority passports.