The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with 257 faith-based, civil rights, immigrants’ rights, and community organizations, today sent a joint letter to members of Congress and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on them to demand the immediate release of British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.
Hamdi was detained by immigration officials at the San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 26 in an apparent response to his criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and at the urging of anti-Muslim, pro-Israel extremists. He remains in ICE custody in McFarland, California.
The letter also urged members of Congress and Secretary Rubio to reject anti-Muslim hate in all its forms and to denounce “Israel First” extremists, including Laura Loomer, who publicly took credit for Hamdi’s abduction and claimed to have influenced high-ranking officials within the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security to act against Palestinian and Muslim travelers.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“We are proud to join more than 250 organizations in calling on our Congressional representatives and Secretary Rubio to demand the immediate release of Sami Hamdi from ICE custody. Sami’s unjust detention is just one of countless examples of the dangerous escalation of Islamophobia nationwide and the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to undermine constitutional protections for students, journalists, educators, and anyone else who publicly criticizes Israel.
“Freedom of speech and press are pillars of our democracy, and Congress cannot continue to sit idly by as ‘Israel First,’ anti-Muslim extremists use bigoted conspiracy theories to influence immigration and international policies and punish journalists for criticizing a foreign government’s genocide and human rights abuses.
“We urge our members of Congress and Secretary Rubio to join our call for Sami’s immediate release from ICE custody, denounce anti-Muslim hate in all its forms, especially in U.S. policy, and uphold the law to protect human rights and freedom of the press.”
CAIR-CA is representing Hamdi alongside the Muslim Legal Fund and immigration attorney Hassan Ahmad of The HMA Law Firm. On Oct. 28, the organization filed a combined habeas petition and an emergency temporary restraining order to block the government from transferring Hamdi away from his legal team.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, a federal court issued an order blocking ICE from transferring Hamdi out of California while his case proceeds. In the order, the court stated that it believes Hamdi’s legal team has raised serious questions regarding whether his detention was retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment. The judge also indicated that some form of court-ordered protection “may be appropriate” if ICE continues to hold him.
SEE: CAIR-CA Urges Court To Preserve Order Blocking Transfer of British Muslim Journalist Sami Hamdi
CAIR-CA continues to urge the community to call on their members of Congress to demand that ICE release Hamdi and that immigration officials make decisions about visitor and immigration visas based on facts, not bigoted conspiracy theories.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Director Zaid Hisham, (916) 441-6269 or zhisham@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626 or tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779 or ladam@cair.com