In a sweeping escalation of its immigration policy, the United States has effectively halted visa approvals for nearly all holders of Palestinian Authority passports, extending far beyond previous restrictions that primarily targeted residents of Gaza. An internal U.S. State Department directive, dated August 18 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructed embassies and consulates to refuse non-immigrant visas—including those for students, medical patients, tourists, and business visitors—to “all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders” applying solely with those documents.
This sudden freeze has immediately affected Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, and the diaspora, creating profound uncertainty for individuals planning to travel to the United States for educational, medical, or familial reasons. The policy also revokes previously issued visas and denies access to PLO and Palestinian Authority officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
The U.S. government justified this drastic measure as necessary for national security and accused the Palestinian leadership of undermining peace prospects through legal maneuvers at bodies like the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian and humanitarian groups have decried the policy as discriminatory and harmful, particularly to those seeking critical medical care or educational opportunities.
As the restrictions enter immediate effect, dozens including students and patients find their plans abruptly derailed. The move underscores a marked hardening in U.S. policy amid escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the Israel–Gaza conflict.
