Far-right British influencer Milo Yiannopoulos arrested by US immigration

Milo Yiannopoulos, a prominent far-right influencer known for his controversial views, has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is awaiting deportation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest, stating that Yiannopoulos, who entered the United States legally on a visa in 2019, has illegally overstayed his welcome.

ICE has ordered Yiannopoulos to leave the country, and he will remain in custody until his removal. The DHS indicated that he received an order to depart on July 22, but his continued presence has led to his arrest.

Yiannopoulos, who once described himself as the "most famous supervillain on the internet," gained notoriety as an editor for the far-right website Breitbart. He has been a vocal critic of transgender individuals, Muslims, and, despite previously identifying as gay, now describes himself as "ex-gay." His career has been marked by controversy, including his resignation from Breitbart in 2017 following the release of videos where he appeared to defend the sexualization of minors, for which he later apologized.

In recent years, Yiannopoulos remained active in conservative circles, interning for former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and leading rapper Ye's (Kanye West) short-lived presidential campaign in 2024. While he was a supporter of Donald Trump in 2016, he has become increasingly critical of the former president and "Trumpism" in recent years, suggesting Trump has lost his way. Ironically, despite advocating for the deportation of millions of people from the U.S. in March, Yiannopoulos now faces deportation himself.