NJN Opposes Travel Ban Expansion
December 16, 2025—New Jewish Narrative strongly opposes the White House’s newly announced travel ban expansion, which denies entry to the United States to citizens of a number of nations, including the Palestinian Authority. These sweeping measures are grounded in bigotry, misguided in policy, and inconsistent with core Jewish and democratic values.
Blanket travel bans do not make Americans safer. They punish entire populations for circumstances beyond their control, undermine people-to-people engagement, and close off pathways for students, families, medical patients, and civil society actors who seek connection, opportunity, and peace.
It is particularly vicious for the Trump administration to punish the Palestinians for America’s inability to adequately screen travelers. America has supported Israeli government policies that have crippled the Palestinian Authority and denied it the opportunity to replace Hamas as the effective ruler of Gaza after the October 7 attacks.
The decision to target Palestinians has real consequences on real people. There are more than 16,000 critically wounded people still waiting for medical evacuation from Gaza.
Moreover, punishing the Palestinian Authority in these restrictions is counterproductive. At a time when the administration should be focused on steps that stabilize and reinforce the ceasefire agreement brokered by President Trump, they are making the choice to deepen the isolation of Palestinians already living under severe political, economic, and mobility constraints.
NJN President and CEO Hadar Susskind, said: “As Jews, we are acutely aware of the consequences of governments that close their doors to people in dire need. Our history teaches us to reject fear-based policymaking.
“We urge the administration to reverse these restrictions and to pursue security policies that are targeted, evidence-based, and consistent with human rights. True security is built through inclusion, engagement, and justice—not through walls or racist bans.”
Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
