Journalism of Courage
British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi has been detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a speaking tour in America, and the immigration authorities have said that his visa has been revoked and he would be deported rather than being allowed to finish his speaking tour, a Homeland Security official said, Reuters reported.
The British commentator was reportedly detained by the federal immigration authorities at San Francisco international airport on Sunday, and a Muslim advocacy group, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), has said that it is a retaliation by President Donald Trump-led US administration for Hamdi’s criticism of Israel and called for his release, stating the treatment to him as “blatant affront to free speech”.
In a post on X, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin informed that Hamdi was detained by ICE officers, his visa remains revoked and he is in ICE custody pending his removal from the country. “Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country,” she wrote.
The US State Department and DHS have alleged that Hamdi “supports terrorism” and poses a “threat to national security” as CAIR group argued that the British journalist was being held in violation of his free speech rights and being politically targeted, BBC reported.
Sami Hamdi is a British journalist and commentator, who appears on Britain’s television networks to analyse developments ongoing in the Middle East. He has recently spoken about the US sponsored ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and about the plans of post-war governance in the territory.
Hamdi is known to be a vocal critic of Israel and according to his LinkedIn page, he is the managing director and editor-in-chief of International Interest, an organization which “advises on political environments across the globe.”
(with inputs from Reuters)
