US detains Sami Hamdi amid Crackdown on Palestine Voices
In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the arrest, describing it as an abduction and a blatant affront to free speech.
US immigration authorities have detained British political commentator and journalist Sami Hamdi, revoked his visa, and announced plans to deport him rather than allow him to complete his speaking tour in the United States, Reuters news agency reported, citing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and civil rights advocates.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed on Sunday that Hamdi is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country,” McLaughlin wrote on the social media platform X.
Hamdi, known for his outspoken criticism of Western policies in the Middle East and his advocacy for Palestinian rights, had spoken on Saturday at a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) gala in Sacramento, California.
He was scheduled to speak at another CAIR event in Florida on Sunday, but was detained at San Francisco International Airport before his flight.
Sami Hamdi and US based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yasir Qadhi in a discussion on the Gaza genocide at the Epic Masjid in Texas, United States
In a statement, CAIR condemned the arrest, describing it as an abduction and a blatant affront to free speech. The group said Hamdi was targeted “because he dared to criticize the genocide being committed by the Israeli government.”
“Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticize the Israeli government’s genocide is a blatant affront to free speech,” CAIR said.
CAIR’s Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said the organization’s lawyers had been unable to contact Hamdi as of Sunday evening. He noted that Hamdi had previously denied any association with extremist or militant groups.
Hamdi has appeared frequently on British and international media outlets, where he has been a vocal critic of the Israeli war on Gaza and of what he describes as Western double standards toward the Middle East. His analyses during Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza have made him a recognizable voice in global debates on US and British foreign policy.
Conservative activists in the US had publicly urged the Trump administration to deport Hamdi. Far-right political activist Laura Loomer, known for her anti-Islam rhetoric and close association with Trump’s populist wing of the Republican Party, claimed credit for Hamdi’s arrest on Sunday.
Loomer has previously run twice for Congress and has been an outspoken critic of immigration policies and pro-Palestinian activism.
Since January, the Trump administration has launched a sweeping crackdown on immigration and foreign visitors, intensifying scrutiny of social media activity and revoking visas for individuals accused of allegedly “supporting terrorism.” These include students and green card holders who expressed support for Palestinians or criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Recent cases include individuals whose visas were canceled after they allegedly praised the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk or criticized Israel’s war policies online.
The administration’s actions have drawn condemnation from civil rights organizations, which argue that US immigration enforcement is being weaponized to silence critics of Israel and suppress Muslim and pro-Palestinian voices.
Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza—launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023—has killed over 68,000 Palestinians and devastated much of the territory.
Hamdi’s detention comes amid growing international criticism of the US government’s support for Israel and increasing repression of pro-Palestinian activism within Western countries.
CAIR has demanded Hamdi’s immediate release and called on rights organizations and members of Congress to intervene, warning that his deportation would set a dangerous precedent for journalists and activists who challenge US or Israeli policies.
(PC, AJA, Reuters)