British influencer Milo Yiannopoulos, a vocal supporter of the MAGA movement, has returned to the UK after being deported by US immigration authorities. Yiannopoulos, who had cheered on the immigration crackdown, found himself subject to it after overstaying his visa.
Background and Rise
Yiannopoulos gained prominence during Donald Trump's first term with controversial comments backing the president's agenda. He worked as an editor at Breitbart News before resigning over remarks interpreted by some as endorsing older men abusing children as young as 13.
In recent years, he maintained his support for the MAGA movement on X, but turned against Trump following US and Israel's attacks on Iran in late February, claiming the president had 'lost his way, bought off by foreign interests'.
Deportation Details
The US Department of Homeland Security said Yiannopoulos had 'legally entered the country on May 14, 2019', but 'chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation's laws'. In a post on X, the department stated: 'Yiannopoulos was issued a final order of removal by an Immigration Judge on July 22, after failing to show up for his immigration hearing.'
He was arrested by ICE at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana on August 27, while travelling to a concert by rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, whose 2024 presidential campaign he had worked on.
Prior Controversies
Yiannopoulos was blocked from Twitter in 2016 for allegedly leading a campaign of racist and sexist abuse against Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones. In 2017, he lost a book deal and a speaking slot at the CPAC conference over comments about paedophilia, though he later denied endorsing such crimes, calling them 'absolutely disgusting'.
The Guardian reported that Yiannopoulos had been involved in a dispute with fellow Trump supporter Laura Loomer, who referenced his past work for Marjorie Taylor Greene in a tweet on Friday. Loomer wrote: 'Illegal alien Milo Yiannopoulos has been detained by ICE. I was the first person to report on the fact that Milo was in the US illegally where he incited violence against President Trump and worked for Marjorie Traitor Greene.'
Yiannopoulos is now among the most high-profile targets of ICE, which has arrested over half a million people since Trump returned to office. Analysis by the Washington Post found nearly 40% of those arrested had no criminal record, and agents' tactics have drawn criticism over detention conditions and deportations of individuals who arrived as children and committed no crimes.
