When Sami Hamdi, a British journalist and father of three, landed at San Francisco International Airport on October 26, 2025, he was expecting a routine flight to Florida for another leg of his speaking tour. Instead, he found himself at the center of an international controversy that would highlight the growing tension between free speech, immigration policy, and the politics of the Middle East in the United States.
Hamdi, well-known for his analyses on Middle East affairs and his vocal support for Palestinian rights, had just addressed the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California’s annual gala. The very next day, he was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who informed him, seemingly out of the blue, that his visa had been revoked two days earlier. According to Hamdi, no prior warning or explanation had been given. "When I entered San Francisco airport to fly to Florida, I went through security. As I looked for my gate, D38 to Tampa, a man walked up to me and said… 'your visa was revoked two days ago, so now you are here illegally,'" Hamdi recounted to CNN.
Authorities initially told Hamdi he was being detained for overstaying his visa, a claim he and his legal team have consistently disputed. Hamdi insisted he was in the US on a valid visa and suggested that his detention was not a matter of paperwork, but rather a case of political retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. As he told CNN, "I think that the reason that my visa was targeted was not because of anything that I was saying but it was because Americans were listening."
Hamdi’s ordeal lasted for 18 days. He was transported more than four hours away from the airport, shackled tightly at the hands and feet, and transferred between vehicles before arriving at a remote ICE facility. There, he described conditions as "harsh" and "dehumanizing," sharing an overcrowded room with nearly 100 other detainees. "The reality is that those facilities are dehumanizing to the human beings (there), and when you look at the stories of the other inmates, it only breaks your heart," he said. Many, he noted, were fathers with green cards who had been detained without charge, and he questioned why so many were seemingly prevented from seeing a judge.
Throughout his detention, Hamdi was never charged with a crime. He maintained that his only "offense" was speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocating for Palestinian rights—a stance that has become increasingly fraught in the US political climate. According to CAIR California CEO Hussam Ayloush, Hamdi’s detention "should alarm anyone who cares about the rule of law." Civil rights organizations echoed these concerns, arguing that free speech protections in the US apply to everyone legally present in the country, regardless of citizenship.
The case quickly drew attention from activists and political figures on both sides of the debate. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who has a direct line to former President Donald Trump, claimed credit for Hamdi’s detention, saying she had applied "relentless pressure" on the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. Loomer accused Hamdi of supporting Hamas, a claim he and his supporters vehemently deny. CAIR, in turn, labeled Loomer an "anti-Muslim extremist."
The US State Department, for its part, declined to comment on the specifics of Hamdi’s case. Principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told CNN, "We’re going to enforce our immigration laws…We’re revoking visas when appropriate, in line with our national security." Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated that "Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country."
Hamdi’s detention is not an isolated incident. He is one of several pro-Palestinian foreign nationals who have faced visa revocations under the Trump administration in 2025. Earlier this year, Momodou Taal, a Cornell graduate student and dual UK-Gambian citizen, had his visa revoked and was targeted for deportation after participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Taal ultimately chose to leave the US voluntarily.
The backdrop to these events is the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has drawn intense international scrutiny. In September 2025, an independent United Nations inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—a charge that Israel has firmly denied. Hamdi, who previously came under criticism for remarks made at a London event after the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, has consistently argued for a resolution to what he calls "occupation" and "apartheid." He clarified to CNN, "No one is saying October 7 was right. My argument was that we have to solve the issue of the rights of the Palestinians. We have to solve the issue of occupation, apartheid, and that will bring peace to the region."
Upon his release and return to London on November 13, Hamdi was reunited with his family and reflected on his experience. "I want to say that this wasn’t just an attack on me. It was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide. It was an attack on their freedom to speak the truth in the face of hatred," he said. While he is considering legal action against US authorities, Hamdi has also expressed a sense of vindication. "I won this case, the extremists failed to silence my voice, they failed to remove my freedom of speech. America stood with me," he declared. Yet, he was quick to shift the focus away from himself: "I am not the story. The story is one of the most heinous genocides of our time. The story is about kids who had their heads blown off. The story is about innocent women and children who were bombed into oblivion for crimes they did not commit."
Hamdi’s case has exposed the precarious position of foreign nationals who engage in political speech in the US, especially when their views challenge powerful interests or prevailing narratives. For some, his release is a victory for free speech; for others, it is a warning about the limits of dissent in an increasingly polarized political landscape. As Hamdi looks forward to spending time with his family—and, as he put it, "a game of soccer over the weekend"—the broader debate over immigration, activism, and the right to speak one’s mind in America continues to rage on.
