Gazans visas paused amid security review

The State Department paused Gazans visitor visas as it reviews the vetting process over concerns of links to Hamas.

US suspends Gazans visitor visas amid security concerns

The State Department announced on X that it would halt all visitor visas for people from Gaza while it reviews the process that allows medical and humanitarian travel to the United States. Secretary of State Rubio said evidence had been presented to the Trump administration by multiple congressional offices and that the pause would stand during the review.

The department did not provide further details about the evidence or the offices involved. The move drew attention to HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit that arranges medical evacuations for Gaza residents, which criticized the pause. Laura Loomer claimed credit for the action, arguing that arriving families threaten national security. As of May, the United States had issued nearly 4,000 visas to Palestinians with authority passports seeking treatment, many traveling with accompanying adults.

Rubio said the program would be reevaluated and that the United States would not partner with groups that have links or sympathies toward Hamas, without naming specific organizations. CNN sought additional information from the State Department for more detail about the cited evidence.

The decision highlights a clash between speeding access to critical medical care and guarding national security. By pausing the program without clear public findings, the administration risks delaying life-saving treatment for vulnerable Gazan patients and unsettling humanitarian groups that rely on patient transfers. The move could inflame political fault lines and invite legal or regulatory challenges that delay any final conclusions. Transparency about the evidence and vetting standards will be crucial to maintain trust among patients, providers, and allies.

Highlights

The policy outcome will hinge on clearer rules and verifiable evidence.