British Journalist Sami Hamdi to Be Released from ICE Custody After Controversial Detention

British journalist Sami Hamdi to be released from ICE custody, lawyers say

British reporter and pro‑Palestine commentator Sami Hamdi is expected to return to the UK after more than two weeks in the custody of US immigration authorities, his wife and legal team said on Monday.

Hamdi, 35, was stopped on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport and taken into custody by agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while midway through a speaking tour about Israel’s war on Gaza.

Hassan M. Ahmad, an attorney with the California chapter of the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR‑CA), and representatives from the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) said in a joint statement that Hamdi’s detention was punitive — a response to his criticism of Israel during the US tour — rather than the result of any alleged criminal conduct.

“It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell,” said Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR’s California chapter. “His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.”

Hamdi’s lawyers said the immigration charging document alleged only a visa overstay after, they assert, the government revoked his visa without prior notice or explanation. They added the charging papers did not cite criminal conduct or national security grounds.

Hamdi’s wife, Soumaya Hamdi, announced his impending return on social media: “Sami is coming home, alhamdullilah. Elated doesn’t begin to describe the feeling.” She also expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to the many people who assisted during his detention.

A number of institutions raised concerns about the handling of Hamdi’s case, including his former university, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and PEN America, a non‑profit that defends freedom of expression.

By contrast, some far‑right figures publicly supported his detention. Activist Laura Loomer — who has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe” — celebrated his detention and repeatedly claimed he would be deported without providing evidence, and she made unsubstantiated accusations that he supports Islamic terrorism.

Responding to public claims about family ties, Hamdi’s father, Mohamed El‑Hachmi Hamdi, wrote on X that he “has no affiliation” with any political or religious group. He described his son’s position on Palestine as aligned with the rights of civilians to “security, peace, freedom and dignity.”

The administration of US President Donald Trump has, according to advocates, targeted several pro‑Palestinian voices even as it has engaged in efforts to mediate a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Among those cited by campaigners is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian and former Columbia University student who, after being released from detention in June, still faces immigration challenges.

Since October 2023, an independent United Nations commission of inquiry and several human rights organisations have reported heavy civilian casualties in Gaza; the figures cited in these reports estimate at least 68,875 Palestinians killed and 170,679 wounded. Human rights groups and UN investigators have described aspects of the campaign in Gaza in language up to and including allegations of genocide.

Hamdi’s legal representatives say they will continue to press for transparency about the visa revocation and detention process and to challenge any attempt to restrict legitimate political speech by foreign visitors to the United States.