Far-right British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos arrested by ICE, faces deportation

Milo Yiannopoulos, a British far-right commentator and proponent of white nationalism in the United States, has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is slated for deportation, the U.S. government announced Friday.

The controversial figure was apprehended on Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Yiannopoulos legally entered the U.S. on May 14, 2019, but subsequently overstayed his authorized period of stay. Consequently, he was issued a final deportation order on July 22 after failing to appear for a hearing concerning his immigration status.

"He will remain detained by ICE pending his expulsion," the statement read. Yiannopoulos has resided in the U.S. for several years and had previously called for "total immunity" for ICE agents on the social platform X in September. ICE is the agency leading the anti-immigration offensive championed by former President Donald Trump.

The arrest has drawn reactions from rival far-right figures, including influencer Laura Loomer. Loomer took to X to claim credit for being the first to report Yiannopoulos's alleged illegal presence in the U.S., stating he had "incited violence against President (Donald) Trump." Yiannopoulos, who identifies as gay, has been criticized by opponents as racist and misogynistic, while he presents himself as a defender of free speech against "political correctness."

He is known to be close to Kanye West, who is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday, according to specialized media outlet TMZ. Yiannopoulos's methods have been criticized as brutal, and recent incidents involving federal agents have caused significant public outcry in the United States.