British journalist Sami Hamdi to be released from US ICE custody

British journalist and political analyst Sami Hamdi is set to be released from US immigration custody following a government agreement allowing him to return home to the UK, his family and civil rights advocates confirmed on Monday.

Hamdi, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at San Francisco International Airport on 26 October while on a US speaking tour, had been held for over two weeks.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said his visa had been revoked on grounds relating to national security, claiming that "those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country".

His family said in a short statement: "Alhamdulillah, good news. The government has agreed to release Sami. He will be able to return home soon insha’Allah. Additional details forthcoming."

The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the HMA Law Firm, and the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) said the release follows a legal agreement that ends Hamdi’s detention and allows him to leave voluntarily.

According to CAIR-CA, Hamdi’s immigration charge alleged only a visa overstay - one that occurred after the government revoked his visa "without cause and without prior notice".

The group said the case never involved any criminal conduct or security allegations, and that "the government does not consider Hamdi a danger to the community or to national security".

Civil rights advocates argue that Hamdi’s detention was politically motivated and intended to punish him for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza. The journalist has been an unflinching critic of what he describes as Israel’s "genocidal war crimes against Palestinians", and has frequently accused Western governments of complicity in those attacks.

CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said in a statement that Hamdi’s detention represented a troubling precedent for press freedom.

"It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell. His only real 'offense' was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians," Ayloush said.

He added that the case "shows how quickly our government officials are willing to sacrifice our First Amendment and free press when a journalist uses his platform to dare put America first before Israel".

Hamdi’s lawyers and civil rights advocates had filed a habeas petition in federal court, arguing that the sudden visa revocation and detention raised serious First Amendment and due-process concerns. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing ICE from transferring Hamdi out of California, finding that he had demonstrated grounds for injunctive relief regarding his custody.

CAIR-CA said that Hamdi, who had entered the United States on a valid visa to speak at events across the country, became the target of "anti-Muslim, pro-Israel extremists" who publicly urged officials to revoke his visa. The group said DHS later used its social-media platforms to "malign him - a troubling misuse of power that raises broader civil-liberties concerns".

Hamdi, based in London, is the editor-in-chief of The International Interest, a platform covering global politics and foreign affairs. His advocates say he is expected to return to the UK in the coming days once formalities are completed.