The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has widened visa restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, suspending approvals for nearly all categories of non-immigrant visitor visas, U.S. media reported.
According to an Aug. 18 State Department cable sent to U.S. embassies and consulates, the expanded suspension now applies to visa applications for medical treatment, university studies, business travel, and family visits.
Previously limited to residents of Gaza, the new policy has been extended to Palestinians in the West Bank and across the diaspora, marking one of the most sweeping measures against Palestinian mobility in recent years.
Earlier in August, the Trump administration also revoked visas of members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), effectively barring them from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The U.S. State Department has defended the move, though rights groups and Palestinian officials warn it will further isolate Palestinians from international engagement
