U.S. Suspends Visitor Visas for Gaza Residents

The U.S. State Department announced Saturday that it is pausing all visitor visas for people from Gaza while conducting “a full and thorough” review.

The department noted that “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not specify the total.

So far in 2025, the U.S. has granted over 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which allow foreigners to seek medical care in the country, to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, according to monthly data on the department’s website. This total includes 640 visas issued in May.

The Palestinian Authority provides these travel documents to residents of Yehudah and Shomron and Gaza, though the State Department’s website does not distinguish between the two territories.

The suspension follows comments from activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who on Friday claimed on social media that Palestinian “refugees” had entered the U.S. this month.

Loomer’s remarks provoked backlash among some Republicans. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said he plans to investigate, while Rep. Randy Fine of Florida called the situation a “national security risk.”