Secretary of State claims there is ‘evidence’ that some organizations attempting to acquire the visas ‘have strong links to terrorist groups like Hamas’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday defended the State Department’s move to halt Gaza visitor visas to the United States, saying he’s seen evidence linking visa recipients to terrorist groups in the region.

Despite Rubio’s credit to congressional offices that made him aware of the visitor visa process, the decision to pause it was seemingly sparked by Laura Loomer, who reported last week on multiple flights carrying Palestinians arriving in airports in San Francisco and Houston, which she deemed a “national security threat.”

The United States has suspended visitors from Gaza from entering the country due to some organisations involved in the visa process having “strong links” to Hamas.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer complained on social media about children from Gaza arriving in the U.S. for medical treatment and questioned how they got visas.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed without evidence that HEAL Palestine, which organized the trips bringing children to the U.S. for medical treatment, was working with pro-Hamas

We’ll have a plan to fix it,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an Aug. 7 interview with Raymond Arroyo on “The World Over.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday took steps to revoke or restrict visas for some African, Caribbean and Brazilian officials who Washington alleges have ties to a Cuban program that sends medical workers overseas.