British Journalist Sami Hamdi Detained by ICE Over Israel Criticism, Sparking Free Speech Debate
Sami Hamdi, who works as a British political analyst and journalist, faces detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport on October 26, 2025, after ICE revoked his visa and started deportation procedures. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the detention for national security reasons. Still, Muslim civil rights groups view the arrest as an attack on free speech because Hamdi spoke against Israeli government actions in Gaza.
Detention Follows Conservative Pressure Campaign
The International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company, employs Hamdi as its managing director. The federal agents took him into custody after he finished speaking at a CAIR gala in Sacramento on Saturday evening and before he could attend his next CAIR event in Florida. The Trump administration received continuous pressure from conservative leaders to remove Hamdi from American soil before his arrest occurred.
The detention received support from DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, who posted on X that President Trump would stop all terrorism supporters from entering the United States. The U.S. government had allowed Hamdi to enter the country through a visitor visa on October 19, but it withdrew his visa on October 24, according to CBS News.
Civil Rights Groups Condemn Arrest as Political Retaliation
CAIR immediately denounced what it characterized as an “abduction,” declaring in a statement, “Our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots. This is an Israel First policy, not an America First policy, and it must end”. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s deputy director, confirmed that Hamdi had previously denied supporting Islamic militants and that the organization’s attorneys were unable to reach him by Sunday evening.
Far-Right Activists Claim Credit for Detention
Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of President Trump who describes herself as a “proud Islamophobe,” publicly celebrated her role in the detention campaign
According to Press TV, Loomer wrote online, “You are lucky his only fate is being arrested and deported,” while labeling Hamdi “a supporter of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood”. The DHS official announcement cited a report from RAIR Foundation, an organization the Southern Poverty Law Center has previously characterized as an anti-Muslim hate group.
Controversial Past Statements Surface
The Times of Israel reported that, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Hamdi called to “celebrate the victory” of October 7 during a December 2023 event, asking his audience “how many of you felt euphoria” when hearing about the Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. However, it remained unclear whether these specific comments triggered the detention.
International Concerns Over Press Freedom
The associates of Hamdi told Al Jazeera that his detention established a dangerous pattern that threatens British citizens abroad and their right to free speech. The United Kingdom's Foreign Office should request immediate information from U.S. authorities on the reasons behind Mr. Hamdi’s detention, according to his associates. The British television network Sky News features Hamdi as an analyst who continues to appear on air while facing deportation from ICE custody.
The situation has created new arguments about how much political criticism should be allowed and what role advocacy groups play in shaping immigration policies during Trump’s presidency.