Nov. 10 (UPI) — British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi, who has been in U.S. immigration custody since late last month, is to be released, his wife and attorneys said Monday.
Hamdi, a 35-year-old vocal supporter of Palestinians and a critic of Israel, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Oct. 26 at San Francisco International Airport amid his U.S. speaking tour. Immigration authorities said his visa was revoked on accusations of supporting terrorism, though no proof was made public.
In a statement on X, Hamdi’s wife, Soumaya Hamid, said her husband was “coming home.”
“Elated doesn’t begin to describe the feeling,” she said.
According to the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hamdi accepted an offer to leave the country voluntarily. The immigration charging document filed against Hamdi after his visa was revoked alleged a visa overstay offense, according to CAIR, which said the agreement made for Hamdi’s release means “the government does not consider Hamdi a danger to the community or to national security.”
“Sami’s case shows how quickly our government officials are willing to sacrifice our First Amendment and free press when a journalist uses his platform to dare put America first before Israel,” CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said in a statement.
“His forthcoming release is welcome, but it does not erase the message this sends to every activist and journalist watching — and every authoritarian dictatorship worldwide who can now claim they are following America’s example.”
Hamdi was detained amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. Immigration authorities and State Department officials have pointed to participation in pro-Palestinian protests and comments made online as reasons for visa revocations. Pro-Palestinian protesters, who are noncitizens, have also been detained for the purpose of deportation.
While Trump administration officials argue the move is to protect national security, critics contend that it is seeking to silence criticism and dissent.
“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,” Ayloush said.
