British Journalist Sami Hamdi to Return to UK After More Than Two Weeks in ICE Custody

British journalist Sami Hamdi to return to the UK

British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi will return to the United Kingdom on Thursday after spending more than two weeks in custody with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Hamdi and his lawyers said in a joint statement.

Hamdi, a London-based analyst who frequently appears on UK television to discuss Middle East affairs, was detained by ICE at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 26 — one day after speaking at the annual gala of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California chapter.

Dispute over visa status and reasons for detention

ICE officials told Hamdi he was being held for overstaying a U.S. visa. Hamdi and his legal team, however, say he was in the United States on a valid visa and contend the detention was linked to his outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

"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 announcing he was leaving the U.S. "I am profoundly grateful to my family, my legal team and every individual in the global community who prayed, protested and refused to be silent."

Allegations of poor treatment in custody

According to Hamdi and his family, he spent 18 days in ICE custody. They described harsh conditions, saying he was confined to a small room with dozens of other men (the family cited "80–90 other people"), waited more than eight hours for medical attention, and was kept in shackles despite not being charged with a crime.

CNN has contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.

Government response and wider context

In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that ICE was "happily arranging (Hamdi’s) removal from the country," calling him "an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer." The statement added, "Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country."

Hamdi’s family said: "No family should ever have to go through what we have." CAIR California CEO Hussam Ayloush said the arrest should "alarm anyone who cares about the rule of law," calling the detention an "abuse of power."

Hamdi has argued the case illustrates a broader risk that Muslim journalists and critics can be targeted when online actors amplify calls for punitive action. His case is one of several high-profile visa revocations affecting pro-Palestinian foreign nationals under the current administration; earlier this year, Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal said his visa was revoked after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and later left the U.S. voluntarily.

The reporting also notes contributions from CNN reporters Hira Humayun, Zoe Sottile and Nic Robertson.