Overview
- ICE says the State Department revoked Hamdi’s visitor visa on Oct. 24 and he was detained at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 26; he remains in custody pending immigration proceedings and potential removal.
- Hamdi, who had just spoken at CAIR’s Sacramento gala and was scheduled for CAIR Florida, has not been deported, according to the organization and federal statements.
- He is being held at ICE’s Golden State Annex in McFarland, where CAIR and Muslim Legal Fund attorneys have engaged on his case, CAIR’s California director said.
- DHS and the State Department framed the action as barring foreigners who ‘support terrorism,’ while CAIR and other advocates dispute the allegations and warn of a chilling effect on speech under policies already rebuked by a federal judge.
- Britain’s Foreign Office said it is in contact with his family and U.S. authorities, and conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly claimed credit for pressing officials to act.