The U.S. Department of State announced on August 16, 2025, a suspension of all visitor visas for individuals from the Gaza Strip. This action follows a review of procedures for issuing temporary medical and humanitarian visas. The suspension was prompted by public criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who raised concerns on social media about Palestinian individuals arriving in the United States facilitated by the NGO Heal Palestine, characterizing these arrivals as a potential national security concern.
Heal Palestine, an Ohio-based organization, has facilitated the evacuation of 148 individuals from Gaza, including 63 injured children, who are currently receiving medical care in U.S. cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Galveston, Oakland, San Antonio, San Jose, and Seattle. The organization was founded in January 2024. Humanitarian and pro-Palestinian groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, have strongly opposed the visa suspension, with CAIR labeling it as "deliberate cruelty" and the latter cautioning it could impede critically ill children's access to essential U.S. medical treatment. The conflict since October 2023 has resulted in over 61,000 Palestinian deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to the United Nations. The U.S. had previously issued over 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas to Palestinian Authority travel document holders, including 640 in May 2025. The Department of State has not provided a timeline for the review's completion, highlighting the complex interplay of humanitarian concerns, national security, and political discourse in the Gaza crisis.