Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. He was arrested on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport. Hamdi had been speaking in the United States at the time of his detention. Even more troubling for his supporters was the fact that those allegations raised the specter of a serious double standard.
On background with reporters, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that Hamdi’s visa was revoked. She further claimed that Hamdi was in “ICE custody pending removal” from the United States. The situation came to a head in large part due to remarks Hamdi made on the speaking circuit, which many took as inflammatory. His wife called the accusations against him “abominable,” highlighting this family’s suffering at the hand of these events.
In response to the situation, Hamdi sought to clarify his remarks, aiming to clear any misunderstandings surrounding his statements. His case brought a wave of national attention, especially from civil rights organizations. The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has taken up his cause and is doing battle for him in court. They are accompanied by counsel from the Muslim Legal Fund of America and The HMA Law Firm.
The U.S. State Department weighed in on the matter, asserting that the country “has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans.” This proclamation shone an important light on the federal government’s position on people it labels as threats to national security.
Against this fraught backdrop came unexpected news in Hamdi’s case that would provide the best possible outcome. The government admitted that they should not have held him, therefore releasing him, and he later accepted an offer to leave the United States voluntarily. His family has said he will be “going home very soon.” This announcement comes as welcome relief, a bright spot to an otherwise dismal last few months for them.