British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning, as confirmed by officials. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that Hamdi’s visa had been revoked, and he was presently in ICE custody awaiting removal.
McLaughlin emphasized that under President Trump, individuals endorsing terrorism and compromising American national security would not be permitted to work or visit the country. She expressed gratitude to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their involvement in the situation. A tweet from American right-wing activist Amy Mekelburg (Amy Mek) supported the visa revocation and detention, advocating for Hamdi’s deportation.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticized the detention as an injustice and an assault on free speech. CAIR stated that ICE agents had taken Hamdi into custody at the airport due to his critical remarks about the Israeli government during his speaking engagements. They urged the nation to refrain from seizing critics of the Israeli government at the request of biased individuals, labeling it as an Israel-first policy rather than an America-first policy.
Regarding the reasons for Hamdi’s detention, the RAIR Foundation USA reported that he had previously endorsed the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and was accused of promoting terrorist activities. DHS officials asserted that his statements glorified actions by a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, rendering him ineligible for entry under immigration regulations. Authorities also alleged his involvement in programs linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and his encouragement of audiences to challenge support for US allies and manipulate elections, which ICE cited as efforts to advance extremist agendas on US soil.
Sami Hamdi, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The International Interest, is a renowned political analyst covering politics in the Middle East, Far East, and Europe. A familiar face on networks like Al Jazeera, BBC, and Sky News, Hamdi also leads a risk and intelligence consultancy advising on geopolitical and market risks in volatile regions. With a degree from SOAS University of London, Hamdi attributes his political insights to his father, Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi, a Tunisian political activist.
In his interviews, Hamdi has emphasized his belief that empowerment comes from within rather than external dominance, driving his analytical work. As of now, Hamdi remains in custody and has not been deported.
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