ICE Detains British Commentator Sami Hamdi During U.S. Tour, Sparking Free Speech Outcry

British commentator and journalist Sami Hamdi was detained Sunday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his American speaking tour, prompting sharp criticism from Muslim advocacy groups and renewed debate over free speech protections.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Hamdi was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport one day after speaking at CAIR’s annual gala in Sacramento, California. He had been scheduled to speak at another CAIR event in Florida. The group condemned his detention as a “blatant affront to free speech,” claiming it was retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The Trump administration said the decision to detain Hamdi and revoke his visa was a matter of national security, asserting that the U.S. “has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans.” Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the move an act of “common sense.”

Conservative activist Laura Loomer took credit for Hamdi’s detention, saying she had pressed federal agencies to act. Loomer, who has previously made inflammatory comments about Muslims, accused Hamdi of having “terror ties” and called for further action against CAIR, including revoking its nonprofit status.

Hamdi, who leads the London-based International Interest and frequently appears on British television, has been vocal about U.S. and Israeli policies, especially regarding the Gaza conflict. His detention comes amid a broader pattern of the Trump administration targeting pro-Palestinian activists.

Earlier this year, Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara was deported after documenting immigration raids, and legal experts have warned the trend may represent a chilling attack on the First Amendment. Federal Judge William Young, in a September ruling, described such actions as a “full-throated assault on free expression,” though that case remains under appeal.

As of Monday, CAIR attorneys said they were working to secure Hamdi’s release and demand accountability for what they call a politically motivated arrest.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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