US Halts Visitor Visas for Gazans Amid Political Backlash
The State Department announced the suspension on Saturday, saying it will carry out 'a full and thorough review' of how these visas were granted in recent days.
The move came just one day after a wave of criticism erupted on social media, led by far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer. She claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Palestinians who said they were refugees from Gaza had arrived in the US through airports in San Francisco and Houston. Loomer questioned whether admitting them was in line with the 'America First' policy and later claimed more Palestinians had entered through Missouri. She also said some US lawmakers had privately expressed anger to her.
Several Republican politicians quickly echoed those concerns. Congressman Chip Roy of Texas said he would seek answers about the arrivals, while Florida lawmaker Randy Fine described the situation as a potential 'national security risk.'
The State Department has not confirmed the exact number of visas granted but stressed that the review is aimed at ensuring all procedures are properly followed before any further approvals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
2 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Israel Bombs Power Plant Near Yemeni Capital After Houthi Ballistic Missile Launch
The Israeli navy launched strikes on a key power plant near Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Sunday. The Israeli military claimed the facility was being used by Houthi forces but did not provide evidence. The assault comes in the wake of the latest Houthi ballistic missile attack which targeted Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, but which was reportedly intercepted and caused no damage or casualties. Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said the new Israeli assault caused damage to generators at the Hezyaz power station and triggered a fire, which was soon after successfully contained. The Israeli military (IDF) described the attack as a response to ongoing Houthi missile and drone launches on Israel, which have persisted in parallel to IDF expanded operations inside the Gaza Strip. A Sunday statement said Israeli forces 'struck… deep inside Yemen, targeting an energy infrastructure site that served the Houthi terrorist regime' in an area of Sanaa, with without naming the specific site. These 'strikes were conducted in response to repeated attacks' by the Iran-allied Shia militant group. Israel has off and on for months bombed various parts of Yemen's infrastructure, including the critical port of Hodeidah and the country's main international airport. These Israeli operations in Yemen have stepped-up after last spring the US withdrew from active Red Sea operations. Trump essentially declared mission accomplished, announced ceasefire, and called the US Navy away from the very costly (in terms of missiles and bombs expended) and risky mission. Currently, Houthi leadership has still vowed to attack alleged Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Foreign ships bound for Israeli ports have also been put on notice. International shipping transit routes have long ago been forced to adjust, taking longer and costlier routes to avoid the Red Sea, and also to the financial detriment of Egypt and its Suez canal. Neither Israel nor the Western allies have been able to do anything about this, and some observers have expressed awe that a group of largely poor Islamist militants in sandals have been able to inflict such punishment and an effective blockade on global shipping and Israeli and Western companies. And given that Israel is actually expanding offensive operations into southern Gaza once again, and against Gaza City, the Red Sea conflict won't wind down anytime soon. Ceasefire efforts based in Doha have clearly failed at this point.
Gulf Insider
2 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Trump Pushing For Summit With Putin & Zelensky Next Friday
President Trump has stated in the wake of the historic Alaska summit that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a productive meeting, but they were unable to reach an agreement on a ceasefire or peace deal for Ukraine. 'We didn't get there' on a ceasefire, Trump described. And yet there appears to be real momentum this time, coming out of Alaska. Ukrainian President Zelensky is meanwhile set to arrive in Washington Monday to discuss peace in the Oval Office. Of course, talks didn't go so well last time – and there's likely to be persisting tensions – given that the conflict, as explained by Putin on Friday, would never have happened if Trump had been president, something which Trump himself has long asserted. Trump had told European leaders in a post-summit call that he's now seeking a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky as soon as next Friday, according to sources in Axios . 'I think the meeting was a 10,' Trump said in a post-summit interview with Fox News. 'In the sense, we got along great, and it's good when two big powers get along, especially when they're nuclear powers. We're No. 1 and they're No. 2 in the world.' And yet Putin's firm conditions make such a trilateral summit unlikely at such a near date – also given the Russian president has in the recent past made clear he would only meet with Zelensky if the two were ready to sign a deal, or essentially already at the goal line. The Kremlin has still maintained that Zelensky doesn't have legal legitimacy, given the cancelation of elections in Ukraine and extension far past his term expiration. According to more from Axios, this is where things stand in terms of Putin's demands, based on admin sources: They said Putin had demanded that Ukraine cede two of the four regions to which Russia has laid claim (Donetsk and Luhansk) , and freeze the front lines in the other two (Kherson and Zaporizhzhia). Russia controls nearly all of Luhansk, but only about three-quarters of Donetsk. Putin presented his willingness to stop pushing forward in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as a concession, in exchange for Ukraine withdrawing from Donetsk, one source briefed on the call said. In reality, Russia hasn't made any progress in those areas for some time. A Ukrainian source said the U.S. side had the impression Putin was willing to negotiate over the small slivers of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions under Russian control. If it is accurate that Putin is only demanding full political recognition for the Russian Federation over just two of the territories, this suggests Moscow is willing to make compromise – or at least have substantial top level discussions – to end the war, thought Western pundits are still calling these 'maximalist' demands. The hawks certainly don't want to entertain this. That real negotiations involving Putin, Trump, and Zelensky are opening up based on these aggressive White House diplomatic moves is a very positive development toward final settlement – though plenty of immense hurdles remain. For staters, with Zelensky headed back to D.C., his European backers are doing everything to ensure it is only Ukraine's maximum demands which are recognized. The popular X commentator Russian Markets points out the 'Germans are in panic as Zelensky goes alone to meet Trump, so all the EU leaders together with NATO's chief are preparing to answer the questions Trump will put to Zelensky. So, do you see who is truly at war with Russia?' As it stands, Zelensky has repeatedly assured his population and allies that Ukraine won't cede an inch of territory, and he's still not even offered political recognition of Crimea as Russia's. What Russia could permanently come away with if a final settlement is reached on the Kremlin's terms. So a lot will be known by Monday after Zelensky's Oval Office visit – given he's going to have to bring some compromise to the table which is substantial, if there are hopes of finally ending the war. The question also remains: is Trump ready to exert the necessary pressure, and also push back against the hawks in Europe and in Congress?
Daily Tribune
8 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
‘Planting food, not hate': Brazil's Lula razzes Trump over tariff-hit grapes
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that he hopes Donald Trump can come and get to know the real Brazil, as the South American powerhouse reels from Washington's 50-percent tariffs. In a video taken while he planted grapes -- one of the tariff-hit goods -- Brazil's leftist leader addressed Trump. 'I hope you can visit someday so we can talk and you can get to know the true Brazil, the Brazil of people who love samba, carnival, soccer, the United States, China, Russia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. We love everyone,' Lula said. The tariffs imposed on Brazil are among the steepest to hit a US trading partner. And unlike with other countries, the measures against Brazil have been framed in openly political terms, with the Republican president justifying the move by alleging Brasilia is conducting a 'witch hunt' against his ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is being tried for an alleged coup attempt against Lula in 2022, and the United States recently sanctioned the judge in the case, along with seven other Supreme Court magistrates. Lula has backed the Supreme Court and promises to defend 'the sovereignty of the Brazilian people.' His administration has also vowed to combat Trump's tariffs, including by lodging an appeal if necessary. The levies, which affect several key exports from the largest economy in Latin America, sweep aside centuries-old trade ties and a surplus that Brasilia put at $284 million last year. In his message on X, Lula said he was giving an example of 'planting food, and not planting violence, or planting hate.' 'I hope that someday we can talk, President Trump, so you can learn about the quality of the Brazilian people,' he adds.
