Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, had his visa revoked and was arrested during his visit to the United States for his remarks criticizing Israel.

According to a statement released on the 27th by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 35-year-old Hamdi entered the United States on the 19th and made a lecture tour in the United States. After issuing warnings about Hamdi's repeated remarks involving the Middle East, the U.S. State Department revoked Hamdi's visa on the 24th.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement saying that Hamdi participated in the organization's event in California on the 25th and delivered a speech. He was scheduled to speak at another organization's event in Florida on the evening of the 26th, but he was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on the morning of the 26th.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated in a statement that Hamdi was "detained in accordance with the law and initiated immigration procedures" because of his "illegal detention. A senior U.S. official who did not want to be identified told the media that Hamdi's arrest was related to his previous remarks about the situation in the Middle East. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the State Department have so far not responded to what specific remarks Hamdi made.

A statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Hamdi "apparently in response to his public criticism of the Israeli government during the speaking tour." "Being kidnapped simply for daring to criticize the Israeli government for its genocide in the Gaza Strip is a flagrant violation of freedom of speech."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations urges Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Hamdi immediately. Hamdi's wife told the media that Hamdi had no access to a lawyer or consular assistance and was "effectively cut off from the outside world." The British Foreign Office responded to this statement by saying that the British side maintained contact with "relatives of a British person arrested in the United States" and the United States.

According to media disclosures, 7 October 2023, shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in Japan, Hamdi called on the audience at a event in Britain to "feast victory."H, he said in an event the following year that "no one said October 7 (the event) was right," but that was "the inevitable outcome of the oppression of the Palestinians."

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, wrote on social media on the 26th:"Those who support terrorism and undermine U.S. national security will not be allowed to visit or work in the United States." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also said on social media that it will continue to revoke visas for people engaging in such activities.

U.S. far-right activist Laura Lumer said on social media that Hamdi¡¯s arrest was the result of her ¡°continuing pressure¡± on the U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, saying Hamdi supported the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and was associated with ¡°terrorists.¡±

The U.S. Committee on Islamic Relations called Luther an ¡°extremist¡± in a statement, saying Luther had publicly expressed dissatisfaction on social media with the treatment of children injured in the Gaza Strip to the United States, and the U.S. State Department subsequently announced a suspension of the issuance of travel visas to residents from the Gaza Strip.

Since the beginning of this year, the U.S. government has continuously increased its scrutiny of legal visa holders. It is reported that the U.S. government is examining about 55 million holders of valid U.S. visas. If violations are found, these people may have their visas revoked or deported. The United States also included whether it involved "anti-American activities" in the review criteria, having previously expelled South African ambassador to the United States Ibrahim Rasoul. The United States also refused the visa applications of some Palestinian officials or revoked their visas, preventing Palestinian President Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly.