US stops all visitor visas for people from Gaza
The move comes after Trump ally Laura Loomer stoked Republican outrage by saying Palestinian ‘refugees’ were entering the US
The US State Department on Saturday said it was halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts “a full and thorough” review.
The department said “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide a figure.
The US issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel document, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department’s website.
That figure includes 640 visas issued in May.
The State Department’s move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of US President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian “refugees” had entered the country this month.
Loomer’s statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with congressman Chip Roy, of Texas, saying he would inquire about the matter and congressman Randy Fine, of Florida, describing it as a “national security risk”.