British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi is set to return home to the United Kingdom after spending more than two weeks in US immigration detention, following an arrest that has sparked heated debate about freedom of expression, immigration policy, and the boundaries of national security in the United States. The saga began on October 26, 2025, when Hamdi, a 35-year-old London-based analyst known for his outspoken criticism of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport.
Hamdi was midway through a speaking tour focused on Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza—a conflict that has killed at least 68,875 Palestinians and wounded 170,679 since October 2023, according to United Nations and human rights organizations, who have labeled the violence a genocide. His arrest came just a day after he spoke at the annual gala of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in California, where he addressed the humanitarian crisis and international responses to the conflict.
According to ICE, Hamdi was detained for overstaying his visa. Records show that his visitor visa, which he had used to enter the US legally on October 19, was revoked without prior notice on October 24—just two days before his arrest. Hamdi and his supporters, however, claim the timing and circumstances of the revocation suggest a political motivation. As his lawyer and representatives from CAIR pointed out, the immigration charging document alleged only a visa overstay and did not cite any criminal or security grounds. "The immigration charging document filed in his case alleged only a visa overstay—after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice—and never identified any criminal conduct or security grounds," Hamdi's legal representatives said in a joint statement, as reported by CBS News.
Hamdi’s family and lawyer have consistently argued that his detention was a direct response to his criticism of Israel and his support for Palestinian rights. “It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell,” Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR’s California chapter, said in a statement quoted by multiple outlets including BBC and CNN. “His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.”
The US government, however, took a starkly different view. In a statement to CNN and CBS News, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described Hamdi as “an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer,” adding, “Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country.” She further asserted that ICE was “happily arranging his removal from this country.” The State Department echoed this hardline stance, stating, “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans.”
Hamdi’s case quickly drew international attention and condemnation from a variety of advocacy groups and institutions. His wife, Soumaya Hamdi, was vocal throughout his detention, posting on social media, “Sami is coming home, alhamdullilah. Elated doesn’t begin to describe the feeling.” She also expressed gratitude to the “countless wonderful people” who offered support during her husband’s ordeal. Meanwhile, his father, Dr. Mohamed Elhachmi Hamdi, expressed both relief and lingering bitterness: “This decision brings joy to me, his mother, his wife, our entire family, and all of Sami's supporters around the world. However, it does not erase the bitterness and shock we all feel over what happened to him in the United States—his arrest and the defamation of his reputation and character by US government-affiliated accounts without any legitimate reason whatsoever.”
Institutions such as London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Hamdi’s alma mater, and freedom of expression organization PEN America raised concerns about the implications of his treatment for press freedom and academic discourse. Hamdi’s father further clarified his son’s position, stating on social media that Sami “has no affiliation with any political or religious group,” and that his stance on Palestine is “aligned with the people’s right to security, peace, freedom and dignity.”
Not everyone was sympathetic. Far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer openly celebrated Hamdi’s detention and accused him—without evidence—of supporting Islamic terrorism. Loomer, who has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe,” repeatedly claimed Hamdi would be deported, reflecting a segment of American political discourse that sees criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights as inherently suspect or even dangerous.
Hamdi is not the only pro-Palestinian advocate to face such scrutiny under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal, a dual UK-Gambian citizen, had his visa revoked and was targeted for deportation after participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, has also faced ongoing immigration challenges. These cases highlight what advocacy groups like CAIR describe as a pattern of targeting foreign nationals who speak out against Israeli policies or support Palestinian rights.
Despite the government’s rhetoric, Hamdi’s legal team secured an agreement allowing him to leave the US voluntarily, with no order of removal and no criminal allegations. “The government agreed to allow our client Sami Hamdi to return home voluntarily, with no order of removal and no allegations,” his attorney told CBS News. “We are currently working out the logistics of his return.” The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it was providing consular assistance to Hamdi and had communicated with US authorities and his family.
As Hamdi prepares to return to the UK, the episode leaves behind a swirl of questions about the limits of dissent, the reach of US immigration enforcement, and the future of free expression for foreign journalists and commentators. CAIR’s Hussam Ayloush summed up the broader concern: “Sami's case shows 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.” For Hamdi and his supporters, the experience has been both a personal ordeal and a public test of the values America claims to uphold.
With Hamdi’s imminent release, his family and supporters are relieved, but the debate over his detention—and what it means for free speech and political advocacy in the US—will likely continue to reverberate far beyond the walls of ICE detention centers.
