Copyright newsweek
The wife of a British journalist detained by immigration authorities told Newsweek that she is concerned he is growing unwell because of what she describes as overcrowding issues. Sami Hamdi was taken into custody by federal agents at San Francisco International Airport following his arrival in the United States on a speaking tour, according to The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Hamdi remains in custody at Golden State Annex in McFarland, California, his wife said. She added that he is sharing a room with 80-90 people and believes the conditions have affected his health. In a statement, Hamdi’s family said that over the weekend, he called his wife, Soumaya Hamdi, telling her he was experiencing “excruciating pain” on his left side, and pleading to be seen by a medical professional. “He called me in distress. He could barely get the words out. He was in pain the entire night, Soumaya Hamdi told Newsweek in an interview on November 3. Sami Hamdi is seen with his wife Soumaya, left, and with one of his children, right. The Department of Homeland Security told Newsweek that Hamdi “complained of pain in his left side and was immediately provided access to proper medical care.” Soumaya Hamdi said that her husband told her he had been waiting several hours to see a doctor before contacting her for help. After reaching out to the British consulate, his lawyers, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Hamdi finally received medical attention. “It was a detainee who gave him ibuprofen, at least, to give him some pain relief,” Soumaya Hamdi said. “They said it was most likely to be gastroenteritis,” his wife said. “It’s obviously bacterial that they just kind of said it’s likely to be that, given that you’re sharing with 80 to 90 other people.” “Medical professionals gave him medication and told him to inform staff if his symptoms worsened,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, told Newsweek. “This is the best healthcare that many aliens have received in their entire lives,” she added. Soumaya Hamdi said on October 28 that her husband was taken in the middle of the night to be processed in Fresno, during which he was handcuffed at both wrists and ankles. She described the conditions as “dystopian,” explaining that the ankle cuffs were left on for several hours even as his calves became swollen, and were only loosened after her husband complained to staff and they noticed the swelling. His ankles remained swollen for several days, she said. Sami Hamdi is the editor-in-chief of The International Interest, a magazine covering current affairs in the Middle East, East Asia, and the United Kingdom. Soumaya Hamdi said the couple have three children, including a 10-month-old, and noted that the children have been upset by not being able to communicate with their father as they normally would. “The kids miss their dad a lot. We haven’t allowed them to figure out too much about what’s going on. All they know is that they can’t see him, and they’re not really allowed to talk to him, and that’s really upsetting for them, because they speak to him regularly,” she said. “They like to send him funny gifts and funny messages on WhatsApp and video call him as much as they can. The fact that they can’t do that for them, it feels like a punishment, to be honest,” she added. President Donald Trump’s plans for ramped-up deportations have raised concerns following reports that some individuals with valid visas and green card applicants were affected. The administration has also detained and revoked the visas of several activists supportive of Palestinian causes. DHS described Sami Hamdi as a “terrorist sympathizer who cheered on Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attack.” Following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamdi gave a speech in which he said, “Don’t pity them…celebrate the victory,” and asked, “How many of you felt the euphoria?” He later explained that his comments were not meant to celebrate violence or death, but to highlight the revival of the Palestinian cause. Supporters have contended that clips of the speech, including one shared by DHS from MEMRI, were edited in a way that misrepresented his intent. Soumaya Hamdi said the footage had been manipulated to portray her husband negatively and was produced by an organization known for its anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias, targeting those who speak out against the treatment of Palestinians. “Congress needs to investigate these ICE detentions and to find out why they are taking political prisoners,” she said. Sami Hamdi has an immigration hearing scheduled for November 10.
