Wife of Detained British Journalist Issues Stark World Cup Warning
The wife of a British journalist, who was held for over a fortnight by US immigration authorities, has issued a stark warning to UK football fans planning to travel to the 2026 World Cup. Soumaya Hamdi spoke out alongside her husband, Sami Hamdi, who has just returned to the UK after his ordeal.
Mr Hamdi was initially detained at San Francisco International Airport on 26 October. US officials revoked his visa without warning while he was on a speaking tour during which he had criticised Israel's actions in Gaza. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that his tour was cancelled due to security rules and that he was subsequently in the country illegally.
'Be Very Careful': A Warning on Free Speech
In an interview for The World With Yalda Hakim, Soumaya Hamdi explained her profound concerns for other British citizens. "I would say to British citizens who value their freedom of speech to be very careful, because you got the World Cup in the United States coming up next year," she stated.
She emphasised the randomness of the event, adding, "If this could happen to Sami on a valid visa, a British citizen, a registered journalist, then it could very well happen again." Her comments highlight the potential risks for ordinary travellers expressing political views.
'An Aggressive Experience': The Details of the Detention
Recounting his arrest, Mr Hamdi described it as "quite an aggressive experience." He detailed a scene reminiscent of a thriller film: "They escorted me outside of the airport, there was this black car, the kind of things you see in the movies. When I asked them 'Can I call my family to let them know I'm OK?', a lady from behind grabs me, pushes me on the car, and says, 'All right, that's enough. You're under arrest'."
While in detention, Mr Hamdi, who is Muslim and lives in London, felt the process was designed to break his spirit. "You felt, like, with ICE, it's a battle of wills. Based on the merits of the case, they can't actually win, but what they do is they keep delaying you and delaying until you're just desperate to go home," he explained. He insisted he had complied with all visa conditions and alleged the move was directly linked to his advocacy for Gaza.
According to his legal team, Mr Hamdi eventually accepted an offer to leave the US voluntarily after being charged with visa overstay. His family announced on Monday that the US government had agreed to free him, and he was confirmed to be on a flight home to the UK on Thursday.
Criticism of the UK Government's Response
Ms Hamdi also expressed significant dissatisfaction with the support received from the UK government. "The assistance that we received from the British government... was really very disappointing," she said.
She voiced deeper concerns about the diplomatic relationship, stating, "I think this is really very concerning that the government is not taking more serious action with regards to our closest ally." This case occurs against a backdrop of a sweeping immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has included revoking visas of those accused of supporting terrorism and deporting foreign nationals who have voiced support for Palestinians.
