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In a heated social media outburst, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) lambasted the U.S. State Department’s recent decision to suspend visitor visas for individuals from Gaza.
She argued it denies life-saving medical care to war-torn children while the U.S. handles cases involving foreign officials differently.
The controversy, ignited by far-right activist Laura Loomer’s online campaign, has spotlighted tensions between humanitarian aid and national security under the Trump administration.
The State Department announced on Saturday, August 16, 2025, that it was halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza to conduct a “full and thorough review” of the processes used to issue temporary medical-humanitarian visas.
This pause affects programs facilitating medical treatment for injured Palestinian children, including those accompanied by adults.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” that the decision followed outreach from multiple congressional offices questioning the vetting process.
Rubio emphasized that “it’s not just kids” but also accompanying adults, and suggested some facilitating organizations have “strong links to terrorist groups like Hamas,” though he did not elaborate on specific evidence.
As of May 2025, the U.S. had issued nearly 4,000 visas to individuals holding Palestinian Authority passports for medical treatment, including from areas outside Gaza like the West Bank.
Organizations like HEAL Palestine, an American nonprofit, have evacuated 63 injured children and 148 people total for treatment in the U.S., addressing severe injuries, psychological trauma, and malnourishment.
HEAL Palestine criticized the suspension, clarifying it is a medical program, not refugee resettlement, and that patients return to the Middle East after recovery.
Laura Loomer’s Campaign and Immediate Impact
The visa halt came just one day after far-right activist Laura Loomer posted videos on August 15, 2025, showing alleged arrivals from Gaza at U.S. airports including Seattle, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Houston.
The footage, sourced from HEAL Palestine, depicted children seeking medical care.
Loomer questioned the approvals, writing, “Who from the State Department is assisting ‘Heal Palestine’?” and labeling it a “national security threat,” demanding that those who signed off on the visas be fired.
Following the State Department’s announcement, Loomer claimed credit, calling it “fantastic news” and suggesting Gazans be added to President Trump’s travel ban.
Republican lawmakers echoed her concerns; Texas Rep. Chip Roy expressed being “deeply concerned” about the flights and initiated inquiries, while Florida Congressman Randy Fine deemed it “absolutely unacceptable” and praised Loomer for uncovering the issue.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Outspoken Criticism
On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Greene took to social platform X to denounce the policy, linking it to broader humanitarian issues in Gaza.
“We need to be the America that allows war torn children to come here for life-saving surgeries and the America that never releases a foreign child sex predator that our great LEO’s caught,” she wrote, referencing the recent arrest of Israeli official Tom Artiom Alexandrovich.
Greene questioned potential antisemitism in prosecuting Alexandrovich while allowing Palestinian children surgeries, adding, “I’m not saying bring in refugees or use tax payer dollars, not at all, but when did America’s heart grow so cold to refuse innocent children privately funded surgeries and then they return home after they recover?”
She further asked, “Wouldn’t we allow Israeli children if they were the ones needing surgery?
Or war torn children from any other country?” and invoked religious sentiment: “I know God does not discriminate in his love for children.
Why would we?”
Greene has recently aligned with other lawmakers criticizing the Trump administration and Israel over Gaza’s conditions.
Greene’s post referenced Alexandrovich, head of the Technological Defense Division at Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, who was arrested in early August 2025 during a Las Vegas sting operation targeting online child predators.
He faces felony charges for soliciting sex electronically from a minor, believing he was meeting a 15-year-old girl, and arrived at the location with a condom.
The arrest occurred during the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, which Alexandrovich attended.
Alexandrovich posted a $10,000 bond and is due in court on August 27, 2025.
The U.S. State Department denied intervening in his release, stating he did not claim diplomatic immunity and was freed by a state judge.
Israeli officials downplayed the incident, referring to him as a “state employee” questioned by U.S. authorities, and he is now on leave from the Cyber Directorate by mutual decision.
Secretary Rubio Defends the Decision on National TV
During his Sunday appearance, Rubio defended the suspension, stating, “First of all, it’s not just kids.
It’s a bunch of adults that are accompanying them.”
He added, “We had outreach from multiple congressional offices asking questions about it, and so we’re going to reevaluate how those visas are being granted… And so we are not going to be in partnership with groups that are friendly with Hamas.”
Rubio acknowledged Loomer’s role indirectly, noting the pause addresses security risks without partnering with Hamas-linked groups.
Critics argue the halt will exacerbate Gaza’s crisis, where President Trump recently acknowledged “real starvation” and pledged greater U.S. involvement, despite frustrations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Charities warn it harms wounded children, potentially denying privately funded care.
The debate underscores divides within the Republican Party on immigration, security, and humanitarian aid amid ongoing Israel-Hamas tensions.
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Frank Nez 
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