ICE to release British journalist Sami Hamdi over 2 weeks after he was detained at SFO

British journalist Sami Hamdi will be released from U. S. immigration custody after over two weeks of detention at San Francisco International Airport. He was held for allegedly overstaying his visa, but his family and Muslim advocacy groups claim it was revoked without cause due to his criticisms of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories. The Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that Hamdi opted for a voluntary departure from the U.

S. , with ICE confirming his release arrangement. Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security characterized Hamdi as "an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer," reflecting the Trump administration's stance on pro-Palestinian voices. CAIR welcomed the decision, asserting that it signifies Hamdi is not a danger to national security. Hamdi's wife challenged the government's justification for his detention, highlighting the absence of charges.

Known for his analysis on Middle Eastern affairs, Hamdi had spoken about the U. S. -brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza before his detention. His case is part of a troubling trend of visa revocations targeting pro-Palestinian foreign nationals under the previous administration.