London — British journalist and Middle East analyst Sami Hamdi has sharply criticized the United States after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more than two weeks, describing the experience as “an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide.”
Hamdi, a London-based political commentator and father-of-three, was detained on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport—just one day after speaking at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California Gala.
US authorities initially claimed Hamdi had overstayed his visa. However, Hamdi maintains he held a valid visa, and his legal team argues he was targeted because of his outspoken commentary on Israel’s war in Gaza and increasing criticism of US foreign policy.
Harsh Detention Conditions and Allegations of Political Retaliation
Speaking to journalists upon landing at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, Hamdi said he endured “harsh” and degrading conditions inside ICE facilities.
He recounted being:
- Held in a cramped room with nearly 90 other detainees,
- Forced to wait over eight hours for medical care,
- Shackled, despite not being charged with any crime.
“I want to say this wasn’t just an attack on me,” Hamdi said. “It was an attack on the freedom of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide. It was an attack on their freedom to speak the truth in the face of hatred.”
CNN has requested comment from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Accusations of Targeting Muslim Voices and Pro-Palestinian Activists
Hamdi has been a prominent voice on international news networks, offering commentary on the Gaza war, ceasefire negotiations, and post-war governance proposals. His family said the incident reflects a troubling pattern by the new Trump administration, which has escalated scrutiny of pro-Palestinian foreign nationals.
In a statement, Hamdi’s family described the past 18 days as “a nightmare.”
“No family should go through this. Sami was detained in terrible conditions simply because he spoke out against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.”
Hamdi said extremist activists had weaponized political pressure to silence him. Conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly celebrated his detention, claiming she had applied “relentless pressure” on US authorities and labeling him a Hamas supporter—an accusation Hamdi firmly rejects. CAIR has previously described Loomer as an “anti-Muslim extremist.”
Broader Pattern of Visa Revocations Under the Trump Administration
Hamdi’s case is the latest in what human rights advocates describe as a growing list of politically motivated visa revocations.
Earlier this year:
- UK–Gambian student and Cornell researcher Momodou Taal had his visa revoked after participating in pro-Palestinian protests.
- Taal accused the administration of directly targeting students and activists who speak out on Gaza.
CAIR California CEO Hussam Ayloush condemned Hamdi’s arrest:
“Detaining a journalist in an ICE cell over baseless claims is an alarming abuse of power. It should concern anyone who cares about the rule of law.”
“I Am Not the Story — Gaza Is the Story”
Hamdi emphasized that the real issue is not his detention but the ongoing suffering in Gaza.
“I am not the story,” he said. “The story is one of the most heinous genocides of our time. The story is about children whose limbs were blown off, women and families bombed into oblivion for crimes they did not commit.”
An independent UN inquiry released in September concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel rejects.
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