Trump Bars Palestinians 'With PA-issued Travel Document' From Entering U.S.
The new proclamation cites the Palestinian Authority's 'weak or nonexistent control,' adding that 'several U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens'
U.S. President Donald Trump barred Palestinians from entering the United States, the White House said on X. According to the White House, Trump "signed a Proclamation further restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals to protect the security of the United States."
The document imposed "full restrictions and entry limitations" on citizens of Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Laos, Sierra Leone and South Sudan, as well as "individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents."
"Several United States-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens," Trump's declaration said. "Also, the recent war in these areas likely resulted in compromised vetting and screening abilities," the document read, citing the Palestinian Authority's "weak or nonexistent control."
Foreign nationals "who seek to travel on any travel documents issued or endorsed" by the Palestinian Authority is "fully suspended," Trump's document said.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the lone Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, said "this administration's racist cruelty knows no limits, expanding their travel ban to include even more African and Muslim-majority countries, even Palestinians fleeing a genocide. Trump and Stephen Miller won't be satisfied until our country has the demographics of a Klan rally."
President Donald J. Trump just signed a Proclamation further restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals to protect the security of the United States. — Continues full restrictions and entry limitations of nationals from the original 12 high-risk countries:
This is the most dramatic measure the Trump administration has taken toward Palestinians attempting to enter the US, though it is not the first such step in recent months.
Over the summer, U.S. officials halted visitor visas for Palestinians entering Gaza - effectively preventing those seeking emergency medical treatment in the U.S. - amid pressure from far-right influencer Laura Loomer.
Trump officials soon after issued visa bans on dozens of PA officials attempting to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Following the Gaza cease-fire, Arab officials cautiously anticipated a thawing in Trump's harsh treatment toward Palestinians, even if that did not amount to a change in posture toward the PA.
Following the expansion of his visa ban, however, it is increasingly clear that Palestinians will continue to be viewed by the administration with a harsh lens as it considers next steps toward Palestinian governance reform, the establishment of a new technocratic government in Gaza and the presence of an international stabilization force before it considers removing Palestinians from the travel ban.