State Department suspends visitor visas for holders of Palestinian Authority-issued passports

The Trump administration has reportedly suspended approvals for nearly all visitor visas for Palestinian passport holders. This comes as the US has said that it would not issue visas for Palestinian officials to attend September's United Nations General Assembly, a meeting at which multiple nations intend to recognize Palestine as a nation.

An internal cable viewed by CNN, dated August 18 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructed embassies and consulates to refuse non-immigrant visas to "all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders" who are using the passport to apply for a visa, "effective immediately." Among those visas affected are those for students, tourists, businesspeople, and those seeking medical treatment.

The State Department said on August 16 that it was suspending "all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza" pending a review. The State Department has also announced that it is revoking and denying visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.

The State Department said in the August 18 cable that it was taking the action "to ensure that such applications have undergone necessary vetting and screening protocols to ensure the applicant’s identity and eligibility for a visa under US law."

A State Department spokesperson said, "The Trump administration is taking concrete steps in compliance with U.S. law and our national security in regards to announced visa restrictions and revocations for PA passport holders." The spokesperson added, "Every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating visa decisions for PA passport holders accordingly."

The policy does not apply to Palestinians applying for immigrant visas or those seeking non-immigrant visas using a different passport.

The cable said, "This guidance does include visa applicants for diplomatic or official type visas and for individuals engaging in diplomatic and official travel purposes applying with Palestinian Authority passports. While the Department has determined that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is a competent authority for passport issuing purposes … the United States does NOT recognize the PA as a ‘foreign government.’”