British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi, who was arrested by US federal immigration authorities, is set to be released and allowed to return to the UK after being held for more than two weeks. On Monday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said he had opted to accept a US govt offer to leave the country voluntarily, CNN reported.Hamdi, a London-based commentator visiting the United States on a speaking tour, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 26 as he passed through San Francisco International Airport. Authorities informed him that he was being held for overstaying his US visa.Muslim advocacy groups contend that his visa was revoked without cause or prior notice during his trip. Hamdi’s family believe the decision was driven by his public criticism of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.“The government has agreed to release Sami,” Hamdi’s family said in a statement posted on social media Monday. “He will be able to return home soon insha’Allah.”Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that Hamdi had voluntarily requested removal from the US and that ICE was “happily arranging his removal from this country.” McLaughlin characterised Hamdi as “an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer” and said “Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country.”ICE records show Hamdi remained in custody in California Monday afternoon. He was detained a day after speaking at CAIR’s annual gala in California.CAIR’s California chapter and Hamdi’s lawyer welcomed the US decision to release the British national. “This agreement establishes that the government does not consider Hamdi a danger to the community or to national security,” the statement read.On Friday, Hamdi’s wife Soumaya said the US government provided “no evidence” to justify his detention. “If they want him out of the country, why not simply let him go?” she posted to Instagram. “Why is the US government holding a British journalist without charge?”Hamdi is known for his analysis of Middle East developments and appearances on British television. He recently spoke about the US-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza and international plans for the enclave’s post-war governance. At an event in London in 2023 following Hamas’ October 7 attack, he called on the audience to “celebrate the victory.” In a speech the following year hosted by the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council, he said that “no one is saying October 7 was right” and that “People are saying October 7 was a natural consequence of the oppression that is being put on the Palestinians.”“It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell,” CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said on Monday. “His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.”Hamdi is among the latest pro-Palestinian foreign nationals whose visas were revoked by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal had his visa revoked and was targeted for deportation. The dual UK-Gambian citizen accused the Trump administration of targeting him for participating in pro-Palestinian protests amid the Israel-Hamas war. In late March, Taal announced he would voluntarily leave the US.
