US Halts Visitor Visas for Gazans Amid Political Backlash

The United States has temporarily stopped issuing visitor visas to people from Gaza while it reviews the process that recently allowed a small number of Palestinians to enter the country on medical and humanitarian grounds.

The State Department announced the suspension on Saturday, saying it will carry out “a full and thorough review” of how these visas were granted in recent days.

The move came just one day after a wave of criticism erupted on social media, led by far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer. She claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Palestinians who said they were refugees from Gaza had arrived in the US through airports in San Francisco and Houston. Loomer questioned whether admitting them was in line with the “America First” policy and later claimed more Palestinians had entered through Missouri. She also said some US lawmakers had privately expressed anger to her.

Several Republican politicians quickly echoed those concerns. Congressman Chip Roy of Texas said he would seek answers about the arrivals, while Florida lawmaker Randy Fine described the situation as a potential “national security risk.”

The State Department has not confirmed the exact number of visas granted but stressed that the review is aimed at ensuring all procedures are properly followed before any further approvals.