Archive · 13 Nov 2025
UK commentator returns home after US detention and visa revocation
A commentator from the UK who talks about politics, especially about Palestine, was stopped and held in the United States.
This happened because his permission to be in the US, called a visa, was suddenly taken away.
He believes this happened because he spoke out against what Israel was doing in Gaza.
The US government said he was staying too long and his visa was cancelled for security reasons.
Many people who care about free speech, like rights groups, said this was wrong and unfair to him.
He was finally let go after over two weeks and is now back home in London, saying it was a violation of his freedom to speak.
British pro-Palestinian commentator Sami Hamdi has returned to London after being detained in the US for over two weeks.
Hamdi's US visa was revoked on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport.
He stated the revocation was linked to his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and his advocacy for Palestine.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said his visa was cancelled under security rules and he was in the country illegally.
Rights groups and press freedom advocates condemned his detention as an attack on free speech.
- Who
- British pro-Palestinian political commentator Sami Hamdi
- What
- Released from US immigration detention after his visa was revoked, and returned to the UK.
- When
- Detained on October 26, released and returned to the UK on a Thursday in November 2023.
- Where
- Detained at San Francisco International Airport, returned to London's Heathrow Airport.
- Why
- His visa was cancelled under security rules, with Hamdi alleging it was linked to his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and advocacy for Palestine.
Hamdi and Rights Groups' View
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement View
Reason for Detention
Hamdi and Rights Groups' View
The visa was revoked without warning and the detention was linked to his advocacy for Gaza and criticism of Israel, constituting a breach of freedom of speech.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement View
Hamdi's visa was cancelled under security rules, and he was found to be in the country illegally.
Allegations
Hamdi and Rights Groups' View
The only allegation was overstaying his visa after it was revoked without warning, and he insisted he had complied with all visa conditions.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement View
Hamdi was in the country illegally.
Impact of Action
Hamdi and Rights Groups' View
The detention was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide, specifically their freedom to speak the truth.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement View
N/A (No opposing view provided on the impact).
- Name
- Sami Hamdi
- Nationality
- British
- Occupation
- Pro-Palestinian political commentator, Managing Director of The International Interest
- Detention Date
- October 26
- Detention Location
- San Francisco International Airport
- Release Date
- November 2023 (implied by 'more than two weeks' after Oct 26)
- Return Location
- London's Heathrow Airport