Tel Aviv (BN24) – The United States has suspended the issuance of visitor visas for Gaza residents after a wave of right-wing outrage on social media accused the Biden administration of quietly admitting Palestinian refugees amid Israel’s ongoing war in the enclave.
The State Department announced the suspension on Saturday, saying the pause would remain in place pending “a full and thorough review” of recent visa issuances. The move came one day after far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer posted on X that Palestinians who “claim to be refugees from Gaza” had entered the US through San Francisco and Houston in recent weeks.
Her posts quickly drew the attention of Republican lawmakers. Texas Rep. Chip Roy said he would demand answers, while Florida Rep. Randy Fine labeled the alleged arrivals a “national security risk.” Loomer claimed “several US Senators and members of Congress” privately expressed outrage to her, and she celebrated the State Department’s announcement as “amazing results from the Trump administration.”
The suspension halts the issuance of temporary humanitarian visas, which have allowed some Palestinians to enter the United States for urgent medical treatment. According to Reuters, the US issued 640 visas in May to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents. The State Department did not provide a figure for how many visas were issued in recent days.
The decision coincides with one of the deadliest phases of Israel’s war on Gaza. At least 61,827 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while the United Nations has warned of “widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease” caused by aid restrictions and bombardments. In recent weeks, Gaza City has faced intensified Israeli attacks, part of a broader campaign Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described as an effort to seize full control of the enclave.
Rights advocates criticized the US decision as politically motivated, arguing that Gazans seeking medical evacuation are among the most vulnerable in the conflict. But the State Department emphasized its move was temporary and intended to ensure that visa procedures “comply with all necessary security and humanitarian safeguards.”
