U.S. ICE Detains British Journalist Sami Hamdi After Criticism of Israel
Rights groups denounce the detention as retaliation against free speech, calling it part of a growing pattern of silencing critics of Israel amid the Gaza war.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi on Sunday during his speaking tour across the United States — an act described by Muslim rights advocates as retaliation for his criticism of Israel.
Hamdi had been participating in an event organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Sacramento, California, and was scheduled to speak at another event in Florida.
Conservative activist Laura Loomer, a vocal supporter of the Trump administration, claimed credit for the detention, boasting that she “personally pressured” the U.S. State and Homeland Security Departments to take action. Loomer accused Hamdi of supporting “Islamic terrorism” and Hamas, statements widely condemned as anti-Muslim hate speech by civil rights organizations.
Rights Groups Condemn ICE Detention of British Journalist Sami Hamdi
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later issued a statement asserting that Hamdi’s visa had been revoked due to “national security concerns.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “The United States will not host individuals who support terrorism or threaten American security,” praising Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their “decisive action.”
However, CAIR and other human rights organizations strongly condemned the detention, labeling it “a blatant insult to freedom of expression.” They argued that Hamdi’s arrest was a retaliatory move for his outspoken criticism of the Israeli government amid the ongoing Gaza war.
According to CAIR, Hamdi has been held for over 24 hours without legal representation or consular assistance.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after a federal judge, William Young, warned in September that deporting non-U.S. activists for their political views constitutes “a direct assault on the First Amendment.”
The British government has not released a detailed statement but confirmed it is “in contact with Hamdi’s family and U.S. authorities” regarding the situation.
