US Halts Gaza Visas Amid Political Pressure and Humanitarian Outcry

The United States State Department has announced an immediate suspension of all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, effective Saturday, August 16, 2025. This decision, confirmed via a State Department statement on X, comes amidst a furious social media backlash from right-wing activists and Republican lawmakers concerning the arrival of a “small number” of Palestinian refugees in the US.

The department stated the halt is pending a “full and thorough review of the process and procedures” used to issue temporary medical-humanitarian visas recently. The move follows prominent far-right activist Laura Loomer’s social media posts alleging “Palestinians who claim to be refugees from Gaza” had entered the US through San Francisco and Houston, sparking outrage among conservative circles, including Republican Representatives Chip Roy and Randy Fine, who labeled the alleged arrivals a “national security risk.”

While the State Department did not specify the number of visas affected, Reuters previously reported 640 visas issued to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents in May. These B1/B2 visitor visas primarily allow Palestinians to seek urgent medical treatment in the US.

The decision has drawn swift condemnation from aid organizations, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and HEAL Palestine, who warn of devastating consequences for critically ill and injured children from Gaza requiring life-saving medical care. Tareq Hailat, PCRF’s Global Patient Affairs director, called the decision “dangerous and inhumane,” urging an immediate reversal. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also criticized the ban, linking it to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and accusing the administration of “intentional cruelty.”

This visa suspension unfolds as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies, with reports of widespread starvation and disease, and over 61,827 fatalities recorded in the past 22 months amid Israel’s escalating attacks. The move further highlights the contentious intersection of US immigration policy, domestic political pressure, and the dire situation in the Palestinian territories.

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