British journalist Sami Hamdi has returned to the UK after being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two weeks.

Hamdi, a prominent political commentator, was held on 26 October at San Francisco International Airport, just one day after speaking at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California annual gala.

US authorities claimed it was for allegedly overstaying his visa. Hamdi and his legal team insisted his visa was valid and alleged that he was targeted because he spoke out against Israel’s war in Gaza.

In a press conference, he said: “I want to say that this wasn’t just an attack on me. It was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide. It was an attack on their freedom to speak the truth in the face of hatred. 

“I’m pleased that the judges found that my freedom of speech rights were infringed upon. And I’m pleased that my voice is back and that the extremists will never win. They will never prevent our voices from being loud from resonating with the world.

“Americans are waking up”

Hamdi explained that the charge sheet initially accused him only of overstaying his visa — a visa he says was revoked without his knowledge while he was already inside the United States.

When he appeared before a federal judge, the court raised concerns about potential violations of his free speech rights.

Hamdi believed he was targeted because the “Americans are waking up” to the “voices of truth” about Israel. He emphasised that he himself “is not the story” and instead pointed to the suffering in Gaza due to Israel’s genocide.

Hamdi is well known for his commentary on Middle Eastern affairs and frequently appears on British television.

Hamdi’s case unfolded amid wider efforts by the Trump administration to identify and potentially remove foreign nationals in the United States who have protested against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Civil rights groups have condemned these enforcement actions, arguing they violate constitutional protections for freedom of speech.

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