On Saturday, the State Department announced that it is suspending all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it undertakes a comprehensive review of the processes and procedures involved in issuing a limited number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.
This decision follows a report by investigative journalist Laura Loomer, who indicated that individuals from Gaza were arriving in Texas and California. She published a video that depicted several families entering the United States, with some individuals displaying small Palestinian flags.
Loomer stated, “Despite the US asserting that we are not accepting Palestinian ‘refugees’ into the United States during the Trump administration, I have acquired video evidence of Palestinians who identify as refugees from Gaza entering the United States through San Francisco and Houston, Texas this month. These Palestinians traveled from Gaza to the US with assistance from a group named ‘Heal Palestine.’”
She further questioned, “How did Palestinians obtain visas under the Trump administration to enter the United States? Did the @StateDept authorize this? How did they manage to leave Gaza? Is @SecRubio aware of this?” Additionally, she inquired about who within the State Department is providing support to ‘Heal Palestine.’
Loomer continued her post by asking, “Why are any Islamic individuals being allowed entry into the US under the Trump administration? Who sanctioned the visas? How many more individuals are being granted visas to enter the US, and why are @GavinNewsom and @GregAbbott_TX accommodating Palestinian ‘refugees’ in California and Texas?”
An analysis of monthly data released on the State Department’s website indicates that the U.S. has granted over 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas — which permit foreigners to obtain medical treatment in the United States — to individuals holding Palestinian Authority travel documents. This figure includes 640 visas issued in May alone, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Loomer’s comments elicited strong criticism from certain Republicans, with Rep. Chip Roy of Texas pledging to investigate the matter and Rep. Randy Fine of Florida labeling it a “national security risk.”
A confidential State Department cable acquired by Reuters disclosed that in April, the Trump administration mandated social media vetting for all U.S. visa applicants who have visited the Gaza Strip on or after January 1, 2007.
The directive is applicable to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas and encompasses NGO workers as well as individuals who have traveled to Gaza in any official or diplomatic role, as stated in the cable, according to the Post.
“If the examination of social media findings reveals any potential derogatory information concerning security matters, then a SAO must be submitted,” the cable noted, referring to a security advisory opinion, which arises from an interagency investigation that assesses whether a visa applicant poses any national security threats to the U.S.
In June, Trump issued a proclamation prohibiting nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing the necessity to protect against “foreign terrorists” and other security dangers. The ban affects Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Entry from seven additional nations — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — will encounter partial restrictions.
This announcement comes in the wake of France’s recent decision to reassess its visa procedures for Palestinians escaping the conflict, following revelations that a Palestinian student had disseminated antisemitic material on social media.
