UK commentator detained by ICE after Israel criticism to be released, family says | US immigration
The family of British political commentator Sami Hamdi, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a speaking tour in the United States in late October, says he will be released and “will be able to return home soon.”
“The government has agreed to release Sami,” the family said in a statement on Monday. “He will be able to return home soon, God willing.”
Hamdi was detained at San Francisco international airport on October 26. At the time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) stated that the detention appeared to be retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel during his trip to the United States, calling it “a clear affront to freedom of expression” and calling for his release.
Later on October 26, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, in question He said Hamdi’s visa had been revoked and he was “in ICE custody awaiting removal.”
“Those under President Trump who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country,” McLaughlin said.
In a separate statement made on the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in question He said the United States “has no obligation to host aliens who support terrorism and actively undermine the security of Americans. We continue to revoke the visas of individuals who engage in such activities.”
The Guardian reported last month that US officials referred to statements Hamdi made following Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023; just like DHS on October 27th. shared a video clip by the pro-Israeli group Memri, who was quoted as saying Hamdi said Palestinians should “celebrate their victory” and asked if they felt “enthusiastic” about what was happening.
Hamdi then tried to clarify his words. in another way speech engagement A few days after the Hamas attacks, he said: “We do not celebrate bloodlust, we do not celebrate death and we do not celebrate war,” adding: “What Muslims celebrate is not war, they celebrate the revival of a cause that everyone thought was dead, a just cause, that is an important distinction… I do not celebrate war, I do not celebrate death.”
In an interview with the Guardian in late October, Hamdi’s wife called the allegations against her husband “outrageous” and said the videos were “edited to frame Sami in a horrific light and were produced by an organization that is anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, Islamophobic and targets people who speak out against the genocide of Palestinians.”
On Monday, Cair’s California affiliate represented Hamdi in court, along with his legal team, attorneys from the Muslim Legal Fund of America and HMA Law Firm. confirmed in a statement It was learned that Hamdi accepted the offer to leave the USA voluntarily.
They added that the submitted immigration charge sheet “only alleges visa overstay – after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice – and does not identify any criminal conduct or security reasons.”
“This agreement demonstrates that the government does not view Hamdi as a danger to society or national security,” Cair said.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian.
