GAZA Act Seeks Total Ban on US Entry, Visas for Palestinian Authority Passport Holders

A new bill, officially titled the Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission Act, or GAZA Act, proposes a sweeping restriction on individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority (PA). If enacted, Section 2 of this legislation would outright prohibit these individuals from receiving U.S. visas, being admitted at the border, or granted parole into the country. It goes further, barring them from obtaining any benefit under the existing Immigration and Nationality Act.

Locked Out: The Scope of the Ban

The core of the GAZA Act is its broad prohibition outlined in Section 2. This isn't just about tourist visas; it encompasses all avenues of entry and immigration benefits. Think about what that means in real terms: a student accepted to a U.S. university could be denied a student visa solely based on their PA passport. A Palestinian-American citizen hoping to bring their elderly parent from the West Bank for medical treatment could find that door slammed shut. Even individuals fleeing persecution and seeking asylum, or those needing specialized medical care unavailable elsewhere, could be barred if they hold a PA passport. The language explicitly blocks "any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act," potentially affecting a wide range of immigration processes.

One Size Fits All: Potential Impacts and Concerns

While the bill's title suggests a focus on security, the text itself doesn't distinguish between individuals; it applies a blanket ban based solely on the issuing authority of a passport. This raises significant concerns about fairness and potential discrimination based on national origin. Instead of assessing individuals on their own merits or potential risks, the GAZA Act groups everyone holding a specific passport together. This approach could prevent family reunifications, block access to critical medical care, deny educational opportunities, and potentially trap individuals in dangerous situations by barring access to the U.S. asylum system, regardless of their personal circumstances or lack of any connection to security threats.