Shocking Arrest: UK Journalist Accused of Terrorism Support in the US – What You Need to Know

A British national is currently being held by U.S. immigration authorities due to allegations of backing terrorism, as revealed by a senior official in U.S. immigration.

Sami Hamdi, who identifies himself on the platform X as an analyst of Middle Eastern and North African affairs, also serves as an advisor for businesses and stakeholders, in addition to his role as Managing Director at the International Interest.

On Sunday, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated that Hamdi’s visa had been annulled and he is presently under the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) awaiting deportation.

McLaughlin further emphasized in a post on X that, during President Trump’s administration, individuals perceived as supporting terrorism and threatening U.S. national security would be barred from entering or working in the country, describing it as “common sense.”

Hamdi was taken into custody by ICE officials at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning.

Hamdi frequently posts anti-Israel content on his social media, and has featured on reputable TV stations speaking about his opinion on Hamas and the conflict in the Middle East.

On October 15, he appeared on Sky News saying: ‘Given Trump has imposed a ceasefire on the reluctant Israelis after reportedly engaging directly with Hamas, and is being lobbied by Turkey to establish an international force in Gaza, Israel is exploring how to go back to war without offending Trump.’

Hamdi often cites his opinion that Netanyahu does not want the war in Gaza to end. 

Ten days after the October 7 Hamas attacks, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis, Hamdi was filmed encouraging people to ‘celebrate the victory’ of the terrorist organization.

‘Celebrate the victory! Allah has shown the world that no normalization can erase the Palestinian cause,’ Hamdi said ten days after the worst loss of life for Jews in a single day since the holocaust.

‘When everybody thought it was finished, it’s roaring! How many of you feel it in your hearts? When you go the news that it happened, how many of you felt the euphoria? Allahu Akbar! How many of you felt it?’

Hamdi has previously been banned from speaking at two universities in Canada after his comments came to light. 

The announcement comes as the White House is reportedly unhappy with the pace of deportations.

A Friday report from the New York Times notes that per DHS, more than 400,000 deportations have taken place during the second Trump administration thus far.

That number is said to be short of Stephen Miller’s target of 3,000 per day, currently averaging between 1,000 to 2,000 daily. 

By the end of the year—according to DHS—Trump is presently on pace to deport 600,000 illegal immigrants, short of his 1 million goal. 

That New York Times story quotes McLaughlin as saying that ‘the Trump administration continues to be focused on delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from this country,’ adding that ‘as for personnel, there have been no changes, and we have nothing to announce.’ 

Hamdi’s arrest happened four days after a report by Amy ‘Mek’ Mekelburg –  founder and editor-in-chief of Rise Align Ignite Reclaim (RAIR) – was published, which identified him as a security threat.

Mekelburg described Hamdi as ‘not a journalist passing through America’ but ‘a deployed actor from an overseas cadre system that grooms Western Muslims for on-shore mobilization.’

She additionally noted that Hamdi has promoted extremist figures, ‘praised Hamas hostage-taking as “mercy”’, and appeared ‘alongside some of America’s most aggressive Islamic agitators, militant imams, and groups with documented terror-linked histories.’

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described Hamdi’s detainment as a ‘blatant affront to free speech.’

CAIR additionally noted that ‘our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots; this is an Israel First policy, not an America First policy, and it must end.’