Log in
My Account
Subscribe 99¢ for 3 months
Newsletter

Today's Digital Newspaper

The Gazette

Weather Block Here

Login
My Account
Subscribe
Newsletter

Archive Information

Carrier Portal

Search

Buy Our Photos

State Department pauses all visitor visas for Gazans

By Zach LaChance August 16, 2025 | updated 17 hours ago

The U.S. State Department announced on Saturday the immediate halt of all visitor visas for Gazans as it conducts a “full and thorough review” of the process.

In a post on X, the department noted that these visas, which are temporary, were previously issued to a “small number” of Gazans for medical treatment in the United States.

The move was cheered by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who seemingly took a victory lap after previously reporting on multiple flights carrying Palestinians arriving in airports in San Francisco and Houston.

“Following the release of my reports yesterday exposing flights of GAZANS arriving at airports all across the US, the US State Department just announced that ‘All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped,’” Loomer posted on X. “This is fantastic news. Thank you @SecRubio for your prompt response to this invasion of our country by NGOS that have been accused of being pro-HAMAS @marcorubio!”

In her original report, Loomer targeted HEAL Palestine, a group founded in 2024 that provides Palestinian civilians with food, water, and medical care and facilitates evacuations from the Gaza Strip.

On its website, the group said it has evacuated 50 children from the region to receive “life-saving surgeries, prosthetics, and rehabilitative care” in the U.S.

Eleven of those children, all of whom were critically injured, arrived in the U.S. earlier this month for “long term treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery,” according to a HEAL Palestine news release.

The release noted that after receiving medical care in the U.S., they will return to Egypt for continued rehabilitation.

Loomer previously said the approval of the visitor visas for Gazans constitutes a “national security threat” and called for firings in the State Department.

While appearing to drop that call following the State Department’s announcement, Loomer voiced her support for Palestinians to be added to President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which currently blocks nationals from 12 countries from entering the U.S.

“There are doctors in other countries. The US is not the world’s hospital!” she added.

The visa pause appears to be yet another instance of Loomer’s behind-the-scenes role influencing Trump administration policy and hiring decisions.

She has previously called for the firing of a top vaccine regulator at the Food and Drug Administration, who resigned before ultimately being reinstated in his role. More recently, Loomer has shifted her attention to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who she claimed is actively prepping a 2028 presidential run, and his staff. Kennedy responded to those claims late this week by dismissing such speculation as an attempt to “drive a wedge” between himself and Trump.

ISRAEL ANNOUNCES WEST BANK SETTLEMENT THAT ‘FINALLY BURIES’ PALESTINIAN SOVEREIGNTY

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), a fierce backer of Israel, claimed the visa decision on Saturday was made solely because of Loomer’s attention to it.

“[Donald Trump] and [Secretary Rubio] 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. Massive credit needs to be given to Laura Loomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura,” Fine posted on X.

35c8eb26-de3a-561e-a081-ec673c59cca0

View Original Article | Split View
Tags
Zach LaChance

Reporter

PREV

PREVIOUS

Over 300 protests held Saturday against Trump redistricting push

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Matt Tracy (Reuters) -Pro-democracy activists and labor groups held hundreds of rallies and other events across the United States on Saturday protesting the Trump administration’s push for Texas to redraw its congressional map in […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

Power plant south of Yemeni capital hit by 'aggression', Houthi-run TV says

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save CAIRO (Reuters) -A power plant south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa was hit by an “aggression”, knocking some of its generators out of service, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported on early Sunday. The Yemeni […]