Laura Loomer applauds as Trump’s State Department halts Gaza visitor visas after her criticism

WASHINGTON, DC: Far-right activist Laura Loomer declared victory on Saturday, August 16, after the State Department announced the suspension of all visitor visas for people from Gaza.

The move came just one day after Loomer posted a series of videos alleging that Palestinian families were arriving in the United States on flights for medical treatment.

She demanded accountability for those who approved the visas, calling for their dismissal.

Laura Loomer celebrates as State department halts visitor visas for Gazans

In a statement, the State Department confirmed the suspension, citing the need for a “full and thorough review” of how temporary humanitarian medical visas had been issued in recent days.

“All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,” the department said.

Loomer celebrated the announcement online, calling it “fantastic news” and crediting the decision to her reporting. She wrote, “Following the release of my reports yesterday exposing flights of GAZANS arriving at airports all across the US, the US State Department just announced that ‘All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped’ while the US @StateDept ‘conducts a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.’”

“This is fantastic news. Thank you @SecRubio for your prompt response to this invasion of our country by NGOS that have been accused of being pro-HAMAS @marcorubio! Hopefully all Gazans will be added to President Trump’s travel ban,” she added. “There are doctors in other countries. The U.S. is not the world’s hospital.”

Videos show children seeking urgent treatment in US

The videos that spurred Laura Loomer’s posts were originally published by the nonprofit HEAL Palestine, which provides aid to Palestinian children affected by the ongoing war.

The clips showed children arriving at airports in US cities including Seattle, St Louis, San Francisco, and Houston.

One particularly distressing case involved a 14-year-old girl who arrived in San Francisco earlier this month. According to HEAL Palestine, she had suffered severe burns and shrapnel injuries when the makeshift shelter her family was using was bombed. In addition to her wounds, she was also malnourished, weighing only 44 pounds. 

Visitor visas, commonly known as B-1 or B-2 visas, are typically issued for business, tourism, or medical treatment, according to the State Department. Loomer, however, framed the arrivals as a national security risk. “We didn’t vote for more Islamic immigration into the United States,” she said on August 15. “Who signed off on these visas? They should be fired.”

Loomer’s posts quickly gained traction among Republican members of Congress. Texas Rep Chip Roy said, “Deeply concerned about the incoming flights – including to Texas – allegedly filled with folks from Gaza as reported by @LauraLoomer. Inquiring.”

Randy Fine described the reports as “absolutely unacceptable.” After the State Department’s announcement, Fine credited Loomer directly, writing, “Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura.”