British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained at San Francisco International Airport after his visa was revoked, sparking calls from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for his immediate release.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed on X that Hamdi was in ICE custody pending removal.
Why Has Sami Hamdi Been Detained?
CAIR suggested that Hamdi’s detention may be related to his criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and pressure from an anti-Muslim, pro-Israel activist.
McLaughlin defended the action, stating: “Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country. It’s commonsense.”
She also thanked Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary Marco Rubio for their roles in the decision.
About Sami Hamdi
Hamdi is the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company advising governments on geopolitical dynamics in Europe and the MENA region. His LinkedIn profile highlights his expertise in advising companies on commercial issues in volatile political environments and the implications for market entry, expansion, and stakeholder management.
He has provided commentary for major outlets, including Al Jazeera (Arabic and English), Sky News, BBC, and TRT World, and is a graduate of SOAS University of London.
Hamdi credits his political awareness to his father, Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi, a Tunisian political activist who fled to London under threat of persecution.
Speaking to The Voice of the Cape, Hamdi said: “My father was very active in politics; he was the head of the student movement in Tunisia, head of the Islamist Tunisian Student Movement, sentenced at 20 years of age, imprisoned at 19, imprisoned at 20, had to flee Tunisia, went to Algeria and then Sudan, and then ended up in London. He then became a prominent voice in trying to push back against dictatorial regimes in Tunisia, and I grew up under that sort of umbrella, even if it was not something I wanted to embrace, as I wanted to be a footballer.”
Reflecting on his career, Hamdi told VOC News: “This role of an analyst was very liberating for me in opening my eyes to the fact that we are not controlled or dominated because the other side might be powerful. We’re almost controlled and dominated because in our minds we think we are powerless when we are not.”
