British journalist Sami Hamdi to be launched after being held by ICE, lawyer says

A British journalist and political commentator who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers late final month at San Francisco Worldwide Airport shall be launched, his lawyer advised CBS Information on Monday. 

Sami Hamdi‘s anticipated launch comes after he accepted the U.S. authorities’s provide to depart the nation voluntarily, in line with his household and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. 

“The federal government agreed to permit our shopper Sami Hamdi to return dwelling voluntarily, with no order of elimination and no allegations,” Hamdi’s lawyer advised CBS Information in an announcement on Monday. “We’re at the moment figuring out the logistics of his return.”

Hamdi was within the U.S. for a talking tour when Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers detained him on the California airport, CAIR officers mentioned. He had entered the U.S. legally with a customer visa on Oct. 19, nevertheless it was revoked on Friday, Oct. 24, in line with ICE. He was detained at SFO on Oct. 26. ICE beforehand confirmed to CBS Information Bay Space that Hamdi was detained at SFO and mentioned it was as a result of he was illegally within the nation.

In an announcement to CBS Information on Monday, Division of Homeland Safety Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin referred to as Hamdi “an unlawful alien and terrorist sympathizer who cheered on Hamas following its October 7 terrorist assault,” and mentioned he “requested voluntary departure and, ICE is fortunately arranging his elimination from this nation.” 

“Below President Trump, those that assist terrorism and undermine American nationwide safety won’t be allowed to work or go to this nation. That is simply frequent sense,” McLaughlin mentioned.

Hamdi’s father on Monday reacted to the information on social media, saying his son’s launch “brings pleasure to me, his mom, his spouse, our total household, and all of Sami’s supporters world wide.”

“I nonetheless can’t perceive how America — a rustic whose political system was constructed on the precept of defending freedom of expression — may deal with my son with such harshness,” Dr. Mohamed Elhachmi Hamdi, who can be a journalist, mentioned. “Sami, who has visited the U.S. many instances, has all the time spoken to me with admiration concerning the American individuals and the kindness of these he met and interacted with.”

CAIR mentioned Hamdi has gone on talking excursions within the U.S. quite a few different instances and that they imagine he was detained resulting from his criticisms of Israel.

In a assertion on Monday, CAIR mentioned U.S. immigration officers solely alleged that Hamdi overstayed his visa, after revoking it “with out trigger and with out prior discover.” The federal government additionally “by no means recognized any legal conduct or safety grounds,” CAIR claimed. 

“Sami’s case exhibits how shortly our authorities officers are keen to sacrifice our First Modification and free press when a journalist makes use of his platform to dare put America first earlier than Israel,” mentioned Hussam Ayloush, CEO of the California chapter of CAIR.