November 11, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
British political commentator and analyst, Sami Hamdi, has left the United States after being detained by immigration authorities over visa issues.
Hamdi, who was in the country for a speaking tour, was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the San Francisco International Airport on October 26, 2025, following the revocation of his visa a day earlier.
U.S. officials alleged that Hamdi’s visa had been revoked on security grounds, describing him as a “terror sympathiser.” However, his lawyers dismissed the claim, insisting that he was neither charged with any crime nor linked to any national security offence.
Civil rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned his detention, describing it as politically motivated and an attack on free speech.
Following negotiations with his legal team, Hamdi agreed to a voluntary departure—a process that allows him to leave the country without a formal deportation order. His lawyers said the arrangement would not prevent him from applying for another U.S. visa in the future.
Hamdi, who has been outspoken on Middle Eastern affairs and Western foreign policy, returned to the United Kingdom on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
The case has drawn global attention, sparking fresh debates about the intersection of immigration policy and freedom of expression in the United States.
