British commentator Sami Hamdi was detained on Sunday by federal immigration officers during a speaking tour within the United States, in what a Muslim advocacy group mentioned was retaliation for his criticism of Israel.
The Trump administration mentioned its choice to detain Hamdi and revoke his visa underscores that the US has no obligation to host foreigners “who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans.”
But the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has referred to as Hamdi’s remedy a “blatant affront to free speech” and referred to as for his launch.
Here’s what we all know.
Hamdi is a journalist and commentator who seems on British TV networks to investigate developments within the Middle East. Recently, he has spoken concerning the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and worldwide plans for the post-war governance of the enclave.
Based in London, Hamdi additionally writes about UK international coverage and home politics. According to his social media, Hamdi often goes on speaking excursions and has not too long ago traveled to Malaysia, Turkey and South Africa, in addition to the US.
He can be editor-in-chief of International Interest, a political threat consultancy in London.
Hamdi was detained Sunday morning at San Francisco International Airport by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, CAIR mentioned in a assertion.
On Saturday, Hamdi had spoken at CAIR’s annual gala in Sacramento, California, and had been on account of converse on the gala of CAIR Florida the subsequent day.
CAIR mentioned its legal professionals have been “working to address this injustice.” and referred to as on ICE to launch him.
“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 mentioned.
Israel’s conflict in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ terror assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, has killed greater than 68,000 folks and decreased a lot of the enclave to rubble. Israel says its offensive has focused Hamas and that it takes measures to keep away from killing civilians, however a United Nations inquiry final month concluded for the primary time that Israel has dedicated genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza. Israel denies the allegation.
Laura Loomer, a conservative activist with a direct line to Trump, mentioned Hamdi’s arrest got here after her “relentless pressure” on the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a collection of posts on X, she claimed Hamdi was “an individual with Islamic terror ties” and a supporter of Hamas.
The State Department confirmed it had arrested Hamdi, saying the US will proceed to revoke the visas of foreigners who “support terrorism” and make Americans unsafe. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin mentioned the strategy confirmed frequent sense.
Loomer referred to as on the Trump administration to take additional motion in opposition to CAIR by revoking its 501(c)(3) standing, which makes the nonprofit group exempt from federal taxes.
CAIR mentioned Loomer, who has taken credit for a slew of high-profile firings within the Trump administration, was an “anti-Muslim extremist.” Loomer has beforehand described Islam as a “cancer on humanity” and mentioned Muslims shouldn’t be allowed to hunt political workplace within the US.
Hamdi’s detention comes because the Trump administration has taken related actions in opposition to pro-Palestinian activists and revoked the visas for individuals who have criticized Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
In October, Mario Guevara – a Salvadoran journalist who documented immigration raids – was deported to El Salvador after spending months in federal custody. He was arrested in June whereas masking an Atlanta-area “No Kings” protest in opposition to what organizers describe as Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda.
Legal consultants and judges have voiced concern over the authorized foundation for such detentions. In September, William Young – a federal decide appointed in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan – issued a rare 161-page rebuke of the Trump administration, saying its efforts to deport non-citizen activists represented a “full-throated assault on the First Amendment.”
Young’s ruling is anticipated to be appealed.