British commentator set to be freed from U.S. immigration detention

British political commentator Sami Hamdi is set to be released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention following a hearing in which he agreed to leave the country voluntarily, Middle East Eye reported on November 10th. 

Hamdi arrived in the United States on October 19th with a valid visitor visa for a speaking tour, however his visa was revoked on October 24th without any notification from authorities. Two days later, Hamdi was stopped by ICE agents at San Francisco International Airport whilst en route to Florida. He was detained with charges of visa overstay, and was transferred to Golden State Annex in McFarland California, where he was kept in a cell with around 80 other people.

Despite no previous criminal history, or national security threats being filed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed on X that Hamdi supports terrorism and actively undermines the “safety of Americans”. Civil rights group Council of American and Islamic Relations (CAIR), where Hamdi had just spoken, condemned the allegations as politically motivated, citing his criticism of U.S. and Israeli policy in Gaza. 

Hamdi’s father, Tunisian author Dr. Mohamed Elhachimi Hamdi reiterated Hamdi’s record stating “he has never broken a law”, whilst also pointing out the irony of his son standing trial for his views on Palestine in the “land of the free” rather than for a crime.  He warned that such actions could threaten the First Amendment rights of Americans, writing, “Freedom and the right to disagree are indivisible.”

CAIR-California’s CEO Hussam Ayloush said Hamdi’s detention reflected a growing willingness by U.S. authorities to silence dissenting voices. He described the case as displaying “how quickly our government officials are willing to sacrifice our First Amendment and free press when a journalist uses his platform to dare put America first before Israel.”

Hamdi’s case comes amidst broader U.S. immigration crackdowns, where he is one of many to have faced consequences for his views on Palestine, thus raising concerns about a broader pattern of political censorship under the Trump administration.

Middle East Eye, Maghrebi.org