By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, MATTHEW LEE and REBECCA SANTANA, Related Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was being held Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was detained by ICE officers at San Francisco Worldwide Airport, in keeping with federal officers. One senior U.S. official mentioned the detention was associated to feedback he has made in regards to the Center East.
Hamdi, who’s Muslim, was on a talking tour within the U.S. and on Saturday had addressed the annual gala for the Sacramento, California, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.
“Earlier this morning, ICE brokers kidnapped British Muslim journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi at San Francisco Airport, apparently in response to his vocal criticism of the Israeli authorities throughout his ongoing talking tour,” CAIR mentioned in a Sunday social media submit.
The detention is the most recent within the Trump administration’s ramped up efforts to determine and probably expel hundreds of foreigners in america who it says have both fomented or participated in unrest or publicly supported protests towards Israel’s navy operations in Gaza. The administration has additionally denied visas to candidates whose social media histories have been crucial of its insurance policies.
These actions have been criticized by civil rights teams as violations of constitutional protections for freedom of speech, which apply to anybody in america and never simply to Americans.
It was not instantly clear what particular feedback triggered Hamdi’s detention.
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy group, referred to as for Hamdi’s speedy launch. The group mentioned Hamdi, 35, has not been deported and stays in U.S. custody.
After being alerted to his previous and present statements associated to the Center East, a call to revoke Hamdi’s visa was made on Friday, in keeping with the senior U.S. official. The official didn’t specify what feedback.
The official additionally mentioned Hamdi was touring in america on a customer visa and never underneath the Visa Waiver Program, which he might have been eligible for as a British citizen.
The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate inside deliberations, couldn’t communicate to why it had taken a number of days to find and detain him.
Hamdi, a political commentator who usually speaks out towards Israel and the struggle in Gaza, is described on his LinkedIn profile as managing director of The Worldwide Curiosity, a danger and intelligence consulting group. It didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
U.S. Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin indicated on social media Sunday that Hamdi’s “visa was revoked and he’s in ICE custody pending elimination.” ICE mentioned in an announcement that Hamdi entered the U.S. on Oct. 19 on a customer visa.
“The State Division’s Bureau of Consular Affairs revoked Hamdi’s visa Oct. 24, 2025, efficient instantly. ICE detained Hamdi, as he was illegally within the nation, and he shall be positioned in immigration proceedings,” ICE mentioned.
In response to questions Monday about his case, Homeland Safety despatched a hyperlink to a State Division submit on X Sunday thanking DHS for his or her efforts to take away Hamdi.
The State Division assertion didn’t particularly say what Hamdi had mentioned or completed that initiated the revocation however mentioned: “The US has no obligation to host foreigners” whom the administration deems to “help terrorism and actively undermine the security of People. We proceed to revoke the visas of individuals engaged in such exercise.”
Critics accuse Hamdi of praising Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 assaults in feedback he made in a video posted on-line shortly after the struggle in Gaza erupted. He has denied that, saying he wasn’t celebrating violence.
“Nobody is saying Oct. 7 was proper. Persons are saying Oct. 7 was a pure consequence of the oppression that’s being placed on the Palestinians,” he mentioned in a February 2024 speech to the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Britain’s International Workplace mentioned it was “involved with the household of a British man detained in the usA. and are in contact with the native authorities.”
Hamdi was scheduled to talk at a CAIR occasion in Florida on Sunday.
As a part of its intensifying enforcement efforts, the administration has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to america for feedback crucial of President Donald Trump, revoked a visa for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the U.N. Common Meeting and yanked the visas for British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan. It mentioned it’s reviewing the standing of the greater than 55 million present U.S. visa holders for potential violations of its requirements.
Lee and Santana reported from Washington.
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