California: British national Sami Hamdi, a commentator on Middle East affairs, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Sunday, 26 October 2025, after participating in a speaking tour across the United States. Hamdi had entered the country on 19 October 2025 on a visitor visa. According to ICE, his visa was revoked on 24 October, rendering his presence in the country unlawful. The agency said he is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Hamdi had addressed the annual gala of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on 25 October and was scheduled to participate in another event the following morning.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the detention was linked to Hamdi’s public remarks about the Middle East, including criticism of the Israeli government, amid ongoing regional tensions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Hamdi is in ICE custody and undergoing standard immigration review procedures.
Legal basis for detention: immigration enforcement and speech implications
Hamdi’s detention falls under U.S. immigration law, particularly the provisions governing entry at ports of entry and visa revocation. ICE has authority under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) to detain individuals arriving at U.S. ports of entry who are deemed inadmissible or subject to expedited removal. In this case, the visa revocation occurred during his visit, prompting immigration authorities to act.
Legal experts note that while the U.S. government has broad discretion in enforcing immigration laws, detentions or visa revocations linked to speech-related activities raise constitutional concerns. U.S. citizens and certain non-citizens present in the country enjoy protections under the First Amendment; however, individuals denied admission or subject to removal have limited constitutional safeguards.
The Sacramento CAIR chapter described Hamdi’s detention as “a troubling development” and said it plans to file a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that due-process protections under the Fifth Amendment may have been violated. His case comes amid heightened scrutiny by immigration authorities of foreign nationals participating in political events, particularly those commenting on international conflicts. Observers note that visa revocations and removals on foreign-policy grounds have increased under the current administration.
The British Embassy in Washington, D.C., acknowledged the incident and said it is in contact with U.S. authorities to ensure Hamdi’s rights are upheld under diplomatic and consular arrangements. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, detained foreign nationals are entitled to consular access, and U.S. authorities are obliged to notify the relevant consulate without delay.
As of 28 October 2025, Hamdi remains in ICE custody at an undisclosed federal facility in California, with legal proceedings expected to begin in the coming days before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
