Sami Hamdi, a British political analyst who had been visiting the US, was arrested by diplomatic officials on Sunday at San Francisco International Airport after his visa was revoked.
A Muslim social rights group said his arrest was in response to his criticism of Israel.
Tricia Mclaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, announced on social media that HAMDI’s visa had been revoked, that he was being held by immigration and customs pending removal. In his post, he also made unproven claims that Hamdi supported terrorism.
“Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine the security of the United States will not be allowed to work or travel to this country,” Mclauklolin said at Sunday’s Social Security meeting.
Hamdi, who is based in London, was on a speaking tour in the United States, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Muslims Advints Vala. His guest Visa was supposed to stay for several months, said a leader in the organization.
The group said in a statement that Hamdi was arrested “because he had the courage to criticize the execution of the Israeli government” while visiting, and called his arrest “
Hamdi attended the organization’s Gala on Friday night in Sacramento and is scheduled to speak at an event in Florida on Sunday night.
Hamdi is a journalist and commentator who appears on British television networks to analyze developments in the Middle East, as well as domestic politics. According to his LinkedIn page, he is the managing director and editor of the International Interest Group, “advising on global political issues.”
Hamdi appears to be the latest of several immigrants and international travelers to question whether the US visa waiver has been a political issue. The Trump administration was reprimanded in September by a federal judge, who ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had targeted Israel’s ineffectiveness and the war that would escalate GAZA for two years by funding the US
Hussam Ayloush, Executive Officer of the Caiir California Chapter, said he went to the Sacramento Gala with Hamdi and was shocked when he received a text from him on Sunday around 7 p.m. Federal Agents told him.
Ayloush visited Hamdi and two lawyers on Monday afternoon at the Golden State Annex, the Ice Detention Center in McFarland, where he was held.
“When I went inside to meet him, I felt ashamed that my country treated him that way,” said Ayloukh. “He does not cause or cause any harm to our country.”
Aylosih said that Haldi was guilty of “criticizing what Israel is doing to the Palestinians, and the appeasing role of the US government.”
Cair said its legal team and lawyers from the official Muslim Legal Fund are working on Hamdi’s extradition.
The organization said Hamdi’s arrest came after pressure from far-left activist Laura Loomer, who publicly took credit for his arrest. He said that social media is working in response to “endless pressure.” Loomer had implicated Hamdi in anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, the agency said.
Loomer has successfully lobbied the US government to include American children injured by Israeli weapons to seek medical care in Palestine, including young children in dire medical need.
In response to the question from the times that the arrest of Hamdi came about in response to his US and Israel nails, we say again: the visas of the people involved in this project. “
