British Journalist Sami Hamdi to Be Released from US Immigration Detention
British journalist and media commentator Sami Hamdi is scheduled for release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and will return to the United Kingdom. His representatives confirmed the impending release.
Detainment Details
Hamdi was arrested by ICE officers on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport while on a speaking tour in the U.S. He had been visiting the country to participate in events organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group.
His detainment followed the revocation of his U.S. visa. Prior to his arrest, political activist Laura Loomer had publicly accused Hamdi of supporting terrorists.
Allegations and Counter-Arguments
The U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged that Hamdi supports terrorism and poses a threat to national security. A State Department spokesperson commented at the time of his detention, "The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans."
Conversely, Hamdi's legal representatives and CAIR have argued that he was targeted due to his criticism of Israel and its military actions in Gaza.
Release Agreement and Statements
Lawyers for Hamdi, alongside the California chapter of CAIR, issued a statement on Monday welcoming an agreement that permits Hamdi to voluntarily return to the UK, thereby avoiding formal deportation proceedings.
CAIR stated that the immigration charging document filed in Hamdi's case solely accuses him of overstaying his visa, which they allege was revoked without prior notification to him. The organization further asserted that the charging document does not identify any criminal conduct or security grounds, suggesting he posed no danger to the community or national security.
Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR's California chapter, commented, "Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell. His only real 'offense' was speaking clearly about Israel's genocidal war crimes against Palestinians."
Official Responses
The BBC has contacted the U.S. State Department, ICE, and DHS for official comment and confirmation regarding the release agreement.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed providing consular assistance to a "British man detained in the USA" and has been in contact with the individual's family and U.S. authorities, though without confirming specific details of Hamdi's case.
Dr. Mohamed Elhachmi Hamdi, Sami Hamdi's father, posted on X, stating the decision brought joy but added, "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."