British political commentator Sami Hamdi has returned to the United Kingdom after being detained for a fortnight by American immigration authorities, in a case that has ignited a fierce debate about free speech and national security.
Detention and Allegations
Sami Hamdi was taken into custody on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport after US officials revoked his visa during a speaking tour where he was openly critical of Israel's military actions in Gaza. He was held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two weeks before his return.
Upon landing at London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday, Hamdi was met by his family and spoke to reporters. He was pictured wearing a keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. 'It's wonderful to be back after being exonerated by two federal judges, both of whom found that there were serious breaches of freedom of speech,' he stated.
Hamdi insisted that the only official allegation against him was overstaying his visa, which he claims was revoked without any prior warning. He maintained that he had complied with all visa conditions and alleged that his detention was a direct result of his advocacy for Gaza.
Conflicting Narratives
The US authorities presented a different account. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed that Hamdi's 'visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal.' She stated the cancellation was executed under security rules and that Hamdi was subsequently in the country illegally.
In a post on the social media platform X, McLaughlin linked the action to the Trump administration's policies, writing, 'under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country, adding 'it's commonsense.'
This stance has been met with condemnation from various rights groups and press freedom advocates, who have labelled Hamdi's detention an alarming attack on free speech.
Background and Wider Context
Hamdi is the managing director of The International Interest, a political risk consultancy, and is a frequent analyst on British television. His US tour included a speech at a gala for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in California, and he was scheduled to appear at another event in Florida before his arrest.
His social media features frequent anti-Israel content, and his public statements have drawn controversy. Ten days after the October 7 Hamas attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis, Hamdi was filmed encouraging people to 'celebrate the victory' of the organisation. In the video, he said, 'Celebrate the victory! Allah has shown the world that no normalization can erase the Palestinian cause.'
He has also previously been banned from speaking at two Canadian universities following the emergence of these comments. The Trump administration has pursued a broad immigration crackdown this year, which has included revoking visas for individuals accused of supporting terrorism and deporting foreign nationals who voice support for Palestinians.
