US suspends visas for Gaza residents after right-wing social media storm
Aug 17, 2025
Washington [US], August 17: The United States has announced that it is halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza pending "a full and thorough" review, a day after social media posts about Palestinian refugees sparked furious reactions from right-wingers.
The Department of State's move on Saturday came a day after far-right activist and President Trump ally Laura Loomer posted on X that Palestinians "who claim to be refugees from Gaza" entered the US via San Francisco and Houston this month.
"How is allowing for Islamic immigrants to come into the US America First policy?" she said on X in a later post, going on to report further Palestinian arrivals in Missouri and claiming that "several US Senators and members of Congress" had texted her to express their fury.
By Saturday, the State Department announced it was stopping visas for "individuals from Gaza". (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
