The U.S. State Department has halted its visa program for residents of Gaza. The move came less than 24 hours after far-right commentator Laura Loomer criticized the Trump administration on social media for allowing Palestinian refugees into the country, despite pledging not to.
‘Who signed off on these visas?’
In her post on Friday, Loomer claimed to have obtained video footage of Palestinian refugees from Gaza entering the U.S. in San Francisco and Houston. She said the Ohio-based nonprofit Heal Palestine facilitated their travel to the country.
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Loomer, who has previously described herself as a “proud Islamaphobe,” ended her post by writing, “This is a national security threat. We didn’t vote for more Islamic immigration into the United States. Who signed off on these visas? They should be fired.”
Less than 24 hours later, the U.S. State Department wrote on X that it is halting all visitor visas for Gazans, “while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.”
The State Department did not immediately return Straight Arrow News’ request for comment on the timing of its decision to halt visas for Palestinians living in Gaza.
However, Loomer was quick to take credit for the new directive, saying on X that it came, “Following the release of my reports yesterday exposing flights of GAZANS arriving at airports all across the US.”
Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Randy Fine, R-Fla., also gave Loomer credit.
“BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio have immediately halted visas to Gazans that were being issued by deep state actors while we get to the bottom of how this national security risk was allowed,” Fine wrote on X Saturday morning. “Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura.”
Roy’s statement similarly cited Loomer’s post. “Deeply concerned about the incoming flights – including to Texas – allegedly filled with folks from Gaza as reported by @LauraLoomer,” Roy wrote, adding, “Inquiring.”
According to a review of State Department figures conducted by Reuters, the U.S. has issued more than 3,800 medical visas, including 640 in May, to those who hold travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
What is Heal Palestine?
Heal Palestine is a nonprofit based in Kent, Ohio, that works “to deliver urgent relief and long-term support to Palestinian children and families,” through “health, education, aid, and leadership,” according to its website.
On Friday, the group posted a photo of a child from Gaza who was heading to St. Louis by way of Egypt. He is the 15th child to be evacuated to the U.S. from Gaza in the last two weeks. A similar post from Wednesday shows a girl who was born with congenital defects in both of her legs. She is currently receiving treatment in Chicago after losing her home and access to care in Gaza.
Heal Palestine did not immediately return SAN’s request for comment on Loomer’s post, or what the State Department’s new guidance means for the work it does.
Nearly 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military operation in Gaza, following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Roughly 90% of the territory’s population, or 1.9 million people, have also been displaced –– some of them multiple times –– according to a recent report from the International Rescue Committee.
