The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
August 18, 2025

State Dept. Halts Visas for Children in Gaza Seeking Urgent Medical Care
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The U.S. State Department has halted all visitor visas from Gaza,
including for children who need urgent medical care. The move was
announced on Saturday, one day after far-right activist Laura Loomer
posted a video complaining that injured Palestinian children are coming
to the United States for care.

The U.S.-based Palestine Children's Relief Fund decried what it called a
"dangerous and inhumane decision." The group said, "Medical evacuations
are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face
unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical
infrastructure in Gaza."


.