British Commentator Sami Hamdi Detained at SFO, Visa Revoked Over Middle East Comments
British commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at SFO, his visa revoked by the State Department over Middle East comments.
Overview
- British political commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at San Francisco International Airport while on a U.S. speaking tour.
- His visa was revoked by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, effective immediately, citing comments he made about the Middle East.
- The detention and visa revocation are attributed to pro-Israel pressure, stemming from Hamdi's criticism of Israel during the Gaza war.
- The Trump administration and State Department previously stated the U.S. is not obligated to host foreigners supporting terrorism, referencing Hamdi's case.
- CAIR condemned Hamdi's detention as a free speech violation, calling for his immediate release and confirming he remains in U.S. custody, not yet deported.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the detention of Sami Hamdi neutrally by presenting a balanced account of the situation. They include both the U.S. government's stated reasons for his visa revocation and detention, as well as the strong criticisms from groups like CAIR and civil rights organizations. The reporting avoids loaded language and provides context on the broader administration policies without editorializing.
"The detention is the latest in the Trump administration’s ramped up efforts to identify and potentially expel thousands of foreigners in the United States who it says have either fomented or participated in unrest or publicly supported protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza."
Associated Press"The organization said Sami Hamdi, a political commentator and managing director of the consulting company The International Interest, was detained at the San Francisco International Airport."
USA TODAYArticles (8)
FAQ
The article does not specify the exact comments, but indicates they were criticisms of Israel during the Gaza war, and suggests the revocation was due to perceived pro-Israel political pressure. The State Department cited
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs revoked Sami Hamdi’s visa effective immediately, citing comments he made about the Middle East. The Trump administration and State Department have previously stated the U.S. is
CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) condemned Hamdi’s detention as a violation of free speech and called for his immediate release, confirming he remains in U.S. custody and has not yet been deported.
The article suggests his detention and visa revocation are attributed to pro-Israel political pressure, and references previous statements by the Trump administration and State Department that the U.S. is not obligated to host foreigners supporting terrorism, implying a link to his case. However, official records and additional reporting would be required to substantiate a broader trend.
According to CAIR, Sami Hamdi remains in U.S. custody and has not yet been deported.
History
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