In brief
Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California. His legal team challenges the detention in court, arguing it stems from his criticism of the Israeli government. Officials cite comments from Hamdi that they claim celebrated violence following Hamas’ October 7 attacks. The situation raises concerns over freedom of speech rights as civil rights groups criticize the government's enforcement actions against perceived supporters of unrest against Israel.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys for Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California, are challenging his detention in court, his legal team said Wednesday.
Hamdi, who is Muslim, was detained Sunday by ICE officers at San Francisco International Airport, according to federal officials. His lawyers say the arrest was triggered by his criticism of the Israeli government, while U.S. officials have pointed to comments he made after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, which they claim celebrated the violence.
The detention is part of broader efforts by the administration to identify and potentially expel thousands of foreigners in the U.S. accused of fomenting unrest or supporting protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
These enforcement actions have faced criticism from civil rights groups as violations of constitutional protections for freedom of speech, applicable to anyone in the U.S., not just citizens.
Lawyers from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, representing Hamdi, filed a writ of habeas corpus on Tuesday demanding that the government justify his detention. They also requested a temporary restraining order for a bond hearing and to block any removal from the U.S. while the case is pending.
“If the government can cancel a valid visa because it does not like what a person says, then anyone legally visiting, studying, or working in our country is in danger of politically motivated abduction,” the group stated. “This must end with Sami Hamdi.”
Hamdi, 35, was detained in response to his vocal criticism of the Israeli government during a speaking tour in the U.S. He had addressed the annual gala for the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and was scheduled to speak at a Florida event on Sunday.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described Hamdi’s court filings as “a desperate Hail Mary attempt to keep an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer” in the U.S. She cited comments allegedly made by Hamdi following the October 7 terror attack, claiming he expressed support for Hamas.
Hamdi has denied endorsing the violence, stating his views express the oppression faced by the Palestinians. ICE confirmed that Hamdi entered the U.S. on a visitor visa issued on October 19, which was revoked on October 24, leading to his detention and removal proceedings.