11/13/25 Reposted from heraldousa.com
The British journalist has reached an agreement for his release and will be able to return to the UK with his family.
The family of Sami Hamdi, a British journalist detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), confirmed on Monday that he will be released and can “return home soon”, after a month and a half in custody.
The commentator was arrested in October, while on a lecture tour in the United States. Authorities claimed Hamdi faced deportation for allegedly entering the country illegally. However, the reporter of Islamic descent had a legal and valid work visa.
On October 26, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stated that Sami Hamdi’s detention seemed to be in retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel while touring the U.S., calling it a “blatant affront to free speech”, and demanded his release.
Hamdi Agreed with ICE to Leave the U.S.
“The government agreed to release Sami,” the family said in a statement on Monday. “He will soon be able to return home.” Hours before this brief statement, the CAIR representation committee in California, along with attorneys from the Muslim Legal Fund of America and the HMA law firm, confirmed in a statement that Hamdi had accepted an offer to voluntarily leave the United States.
The organization added that the immigration charge document filed in his case alleged only an overstay of the visa, after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice, and never identified any criminal conduct or security reasons. They also noted that Sami Hamdi “will not be considered a danger to the community or national security,” based on the agreement’s conditions.
Journalist Accused of Being a “Terrorist Sympathizer”
However, Tricia McLaughlin from DHS referred to the journalist in terms that do not comply with this agreement: “Sami Hamdi, an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer who cheered Hamas after their October 7 terrorist attack, requested voluntary departure and ICE is happily arranging his expulsion from this country.”
In a separate statement, the State Department said that the United States “is not obligated to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the security of Americans. We continue to revoke the visas of individuals involved in such activity.” Sami Hamdi has criticized Hamas on various occasions during his speeches and lectures.
