US to free UK commentator held by ICE after visa revocation
The family of Sami Hamdi, the British journalist held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), says he is to be released.
The 35-year-old commentator was detained by US immigration officers at San Francisco International Airport on October 26.
Following his arrest, a spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security stated that his visa had been revoked as "those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country".
Conservative figures had been urging the Trump administration to expel Hamdi from the US after he spoke at a gala for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in California and was scheduled to speak at one of the group’s events in Florida.
CAIR condemned the detention in late October and accused the Trump administration of holding him over his criticism of the Israeli government.
But on Monday evening, his family announced he is due to be freed.
The family of Mr. Hamdi said in a statement: "Alhamdulillah, good news. The government has agreed to release Sami. He will be able to return home soon, insha’Allah. Additional details forthcoming."
Mr. Hamdi, who is Muslim and resides in London, accepted an offer to leave the US voluntarily, according to a CAIR statement.
The council said in a statement that the immigration charging document in Mr. Hamdi’s case "alleged only a visa overstay - after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice - and never identified any criminal conduct or security grounds".
CAIR added: "This agreement establishes that the government does not consider Hamdi a danger to the community or to national security."
"It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell," Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR’s California chapter, said.
"His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians."
Since January, the Trump administration has pursued a sweeping crackdown on immigration, including increasing social media vetting, revoking visas for individuals it claims praised the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and deporting student visa and green card holders who have voiced support for Palestinians and criticized Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war.
Deputy Editor
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