For nearly two years, humanitarian groups have been working to bring children from Gaza to Chicago and other U.S. cities for lifesaving medical care. 

Those groups said they were devastated by the State Department's sudden decision to halt visitor visas from Gaza over the weekend—putting the work of groups that have brought those sick or injured kids here in jeopardy.

The State Department said the pause is temporary, but it was initiated to investigate claims that there are recipients who have ties to terrorist groups.

One-year-old Saedra was born with congenital defects in both legs. After losing her home in Gaza, she and her mother were evacuated by the humanitarian nonprofit Heal Palestine to get care here in Chicago.

It was a similar journey for Jood Damo, who was 2 years old when CBS News Chicago interviewed him last year.

He was brought to Chicago to receive treatment for a serious leg injury he sustained in an Israeli bombing that killed his mother in 2023.

Saedra and Damo were brought to Chicago through temporary visas. Now, that program is on pause after the weekend's announcement.

During an interview on Face the Nation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision. 

"There is evidence, it's been presented to us by numerous congressional offices, that some of the organizations bragging about and involved in acquiring these visas have strong links to terrorist groups like Hamas," he said. 

Rubio did not elaborate on what kind of evidence they are looking into or how long this pause will be in effect.

Meanwhile, Heal Palestine, which has evacuated at least 63 injured children and 148 total people from Gaza, released a statement, saying they're distressed and emphasized, "This is a medical treatment program, not a refugee resettlement program."

"So, once we've identified a hospital or a group of physicians who can provide that care,  we can apply for a medical visa for those children," volunteer Talaha Baquar said.

Baquar explained the process early this month when three severely wounded children from Gaza arrived at San Francisco International Airport.

"So the children are here for medical care. They do not stay.  So once their medical care has been completed, they will either go primarily to Egypt,  where Heal Palestine facilitates housing for them until they wait to be reunited with their families," Baquar said.

Rubio said only a small number of these visas were being issued to children.

According to the United Nations, as of July, over 17,000 Palestinian children in Gaza were killed, and 33,000 were injured by the Israeli military since October 2023.