LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys representing Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, have initiated a legal challenge against his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in California, his legal team announced on Wednesday.
Hamdi, a Muslim, was taken into custody on Sunday by ICE officers at San Francisco International Airport. His attorneys contend that the circumstances surrounding his arrest stem from his criticism of the Israeli government, while federal officials highlight inflammatory remarks he made in relation to the violence following Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.
This detention aligns with recent initiatives by federal authorities to scrutinize and possibly expel individuals deemed to have supported protests or unrest related to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Critics, particularly civil rights groups, argue these enforcement tactics violate constitutional protections for free speech, which safeguard all individuals within the United States, not just citizens.
Legal representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking clarity on Hamdi's detention and requested a temporary restraining order to halt possible deportation while legal proceedings are pending.
In their statement, the advocacy group stressed, If the government can cancel a valid visa because it does not like what a person says, then anyone lawfully visiting, studying, or working in our country is in danger of politically motivated abduction.
Hamdi, age 35, was reportedly detained following his outspoken criticism of the Israeli government during a speaking engagement in California. His subsequent speaking engagements were scheduled in Florida.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, characterized Hamdi’s legal actions as a last-resort effort to maintain his presence in the U.S., labeling him as an illegal alien and terrorist sympathizer.
McLaughlin criticized Hamdi's prior remarks, which she claims expressed support for Hamas’s actions, a claim that Hamdi refutes, asserting he only intended to illustrate the consequences of the oppression faced by Palestinians.
ICE noted that Hamdi entered the U.S. on a visitor visa that was later revoked as part of his ongoing immigration process.
