Yiannopoulos challenges US deportation order after ICE detention
The British commentator alleges procedural failures in his removal, describing his detention in New Orleans as unlawful and unjust.
Milo Yiannopoulos has launched a legal challenge against his deportation from the United States, alleging that federal authorities failed to provide adequate proof of his status before removing him from the country. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the 41-year-old commentator detailed his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was held in manacles.
Yiannopoulos described the process as “unlawful” and “unjust,” claiming that his green card was cancelled without evidence and that official notices were sent to an outdated address. He argued that the government was aware he would not receive the correspondence, creating a scenario that allowed for his removal. “The government knew I wasn’t there,” he said, suggesting the procedure was designed to make an example of him.
The incident highlights a shift in the commentator’s political stance. Yiannopoulos had previously been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, calling for “zero immigration” in December 2024 and advocating for on-the-spot deportation checkpoints in June 2025. Now, he expressed shame over his past alignment with the administration, noting that his experience in custody gave him a new perspective on the trauma faced by other detainees.
White House border tsar Tom Homan has defended the removal, asserting that Yiannopoulos missed a scheduled immigration hearing in July. Homan told CNN that the judge ordered the deportation after Yiannopoulos failed to appear, stating that the process was straightforward. However, Yiannopoulos disputed this account, suggesting that his shifting political views may have influenced the decision to remove him.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that Yiannopoulos entered the country legally in May 2019 but subsequently overstayed his visa. A deportation order was issued following the missed hearing, according to DHS. Al Jazeera reached out to both ICE and DHS for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The deportation follows a public feud with Trump ally Laura Loomer, who claimed she reported Yiannopoulos to ICE and the FBI after he called for her assassination. Yiannopoulos addressed the dispute in the interview, describing Loomer as “more of a danger to themselves than to others” and questioning her mental health.
