San Francisco / London – November 13, 2025 – British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi is returning to the United Kingdom after being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention for more than two weeks. Hamdi, who was detained on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport, said he was targeted for speaking about Israel’s war in Gaza, despite holding a valid visa.

Hamdi’s detention occurred a day after he spoke at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California annual gala, where he addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza and U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts. ICE authorities claimed he was held for overstaying his visa, but Hamdi and his legal team disputed this, asserting that he was legally present in the U.S.

Harsh Conditions in ICE Detention

During his detention, Hamdi described “harsh” conditions, including being confined in a small room with 80–90 other detainees, long delays for medical care, and being kept in shackles despite never being charged with a crime.

“I broke no law and posed no threat. My only ‘offense’ was speaking the unvarnished truth about the genocide in Gaza,” Hamdi said in a statement upon his release.

His family condemned the conditions and the detention process, emphasizing that no family should endure such treatment simply because a relative exercised their freedom of speech and journalistic duties.

U.S. Government Response

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) labeled Hamdi an “illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer,” with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating that ICE was arranging his removal. The DHS under President Trump has revoked visas for several pro-Palestinian foreign nationals, citing national security concerns, a practice that has drawn criticism from human rights advocates.

Reactions from Advocacy Groups

Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR California, called Hamdi’s detention an alarming abuse of power.

“They locked a journalist in an ICE cell and tried to frighten the public with baseless claims. In the end, all they proved was their own abuse of power,” Ayloush said.

Hamdi’s case is one of several under the Trump administration where foreign nationals have faced visa revocation or deportation for their public support of Palestinian rights. Earlier this year, Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal, a dual UK-Gambian citizen, also faced visa revocation after participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

Hamdi’s Statement Upon Leaving

Hamdi expressed gratitude to his family, legal team, and supporters worldwide who advocated for his release. He said his detention demonstrated that Muslim journalists and human rights defenders could be unfairly targeted when their reporting challenges powerful interests.

“Let the record show: I broke no law. I posed no threat. My detention was a stark demonstration that a Muslim journalist can be held captive because extremists, amplified on social media, seek to weaponize state policy against inconvenient speech,” Hamdi said.