Overview

• The department announced Saturday that approvals for visitor visas for people from Gaza are paused pending a full review with no timeline provided.
• Medical nonprofits including HEAL Palestine and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund say the pause is already blocking transfers for critically ill children.
• News reports attribute the move to an online campaign by activist Laura Loomer, who labeled incoming flights a national security threat and flagged specific U.S. arrivals.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the review on television, noting outreach from multiple congressional offices and stating the U.S. will not partner with groups tied to Hamas.
• Officials have not detailed how many cases are affected or whether urgent exceptions will occur, as reporting also notes thousands of 2025 B1/B2 visas for Palestinian document holders.