The United States has suspended nearly all visa approvals for individuals holding Palestinian passports, the New York Times reported on Sunday. The move significantly expands on previous travel restrictions affecting Palestinians across multiple sectors, including students, medical patients, and business professionals.

This new policy goes beyond earlier measures under the Trump Administration, which had limited visas for residents of Gaza. Now, it reportedly applies to nearly all Palestinian passport holders, regardless of origin within Palestine.

“It’s an open-ended refusal,” said Hala Rharrit, who served as an Arabic-language spokesperson for the State Department until April 2024, as reported by the New York Times. 

The US-based newspaper cites the former lead attorney for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Biden administration, Kerry Doyle, in saying that the Trump administration should be honest about their reasoning for the ban. 

“If it’s a true ban, then it’s concerning to me in that they should be transparent about it and then make their arguments for the basis of such a ban,” Doyle said.

She later added, “Are there true national security concerns? Or is it politically based to support the position of Israel and/or to avoid uncomfortable issues being raised when folks get here if they speak out about the issues over the war? Why didn’t they just put them on the visa ban list?”

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Impact on Palestinian citizens and officials

The suspension of visa approvals has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian groups who see it as part of a broader attempt to isolate Palestinian institutions and individuals from the international community. The ban restricts access to urgent medical treatment, academic programs, and professional opportunities in the United States.

On Friday, the US began revoking and denying visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.

Although the US, as host country, is obligated to allow access for UN-related activities, it claimed compliance by allowing the Palestinian mission to attend in a limited capacity.

Context and US government justifications

Two weeks prior, the US State Department announced a temporary halt on all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while conducting what it described as a “full and thorough” review. This suspension has now expanded considerably.

In a statement, the US State Department emphasized, “The Trump administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace.”

The action appears to be part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian diplomatic and civil engagement with the US government and institutions.

Read more: How Laura Loomer halted lifesaving medical visas for Gaza’s children

International condemnation

The move by the Trump administration gained international condemnation from states that have or are on the way to recognizing a Palestinian state.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said the decision violates international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement, which obliges the US to provide entry to officials attending UN meetings.

“We condemn the US government's announcement to deny visas to Palestinian representatives for the 80th UN General Assembly, including President Mahmoud Abbas. This decision violates the agreement regarding the UN host country and demonstrates full support and complicity with Israel's hostile policy against the Palestinian people,” the Cuban foreign minister declared on X.

Denunciamos anuncio de gobierno de #EEUU de negar visas a representantes palestinos a #AGNU80, incluido el presidente Mahmud Abbas.

Decisión viola acuerdo sobre país sede de ONU y demuestra su total apoyo y complicidad con política hostil de Israel contra el pueblo palestino. pic.twitter.com/o7gUTEJm8d

— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) August 31, 2025

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also condemned the move by Washington, mentioning it during a meeting of EU foreign ministers held in Denmark, “A UN General Assembly meeting... should not be subject to any restrictions on access.” 

Read more: How EU funding continues to support Israeli military technology

Alignment with "Israel" and the Trump administration

The visa policy aligns the United States more closely with "Israel's" far-right government, which categorically rejects the formation of a Palestinian state. This development adds to a series of actions taken by the Trump Administration that have been widely criticized by international observers and human rights groups.

The suspension of visa approvals is the latest in a series of US policy decisions that critics argue systematically dismantle pathways for Palestinian representation and mobility on the world stage.