The United States will bar Palestinian Authority passport holders from entering the country starting January 1, 2026, as part of a major expansion of a travel ban announced Tuesday by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The decision also blocks entry for nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, while imposing partial restrictions on 15 additional countries. A White House statement said the measures are intended to protect U.S. security.
According to a fact sheet, the ban on PA passport holders is linked to ongoing war conditions in Gaza, the presence of terrorist groups in Palestinian areas, and what officials described as unreliable vetting systems. The administration said weakened civil documentation and limited control by the Palestinian Authority make proper screening impossible.
PA passports are most commonly held by residents of Gaza, while many Palestinians in the West Bank travel on Jordanian passports, which are not affected by the ban.
The move follows reports that the U.S. had already quietly frozen most visa applications for PA passport holders earlier this year, including for medical care, education, and family visits.
Trump previously imposed travel bans during his first term, sparking protests and legal challenges. Reaction to the new restrictions has been more muted, despite their broad scope.
The administration said the policy reflects stricter entry standards amid global security concerns, citing recent terror-related incidents and systemic failures in document verification across several affected countries.
