British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was detained by ICE on Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana, and has since been deported to the United Kingdom, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Why He Was Detained
Yiannopoulos, a U.K. national, legally entered the U.S. on May 14, 2019, but overstayed his visa. An immigration judge issued a final removal order on July 22 after he failed to appear for a scheduled immigration hearing in July. The Department of Homeland Security said he would remain in ICE custody pending removal after his arrest.
Who Reported Him
Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who had feuded publicly with Yiannopoulos, told The Washington Post she was “100 percent” responsible for his detention, saying she reported his immigration status to authorities after he called for her assassination during their falling-out. Yiannopoulos had previously been a vocal supporter of aggressive ICE enforcement.
Loomer also said Yiannopoulos had been living in the home of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, working to produce her podcast, before his arrest. Greene resigned from Congress in January after a public falling-out with President Trump, who had withdrawn his endorsement of her after she criticized the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and other issues.
The Feud Spreads
Greene has since publicly split with Loomer over an unrelated matter: Loomer’s racist remarks directed at Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, the Democratic Senate candidate. “I 1000% denounce Laura Loomer and her nasty, hateful, racist comments. This is Trump’s new MAGA and Republican Party and I want nothing to do with it,” Greene wrote. The dispute escalated further on Monday when Greene called Loomer a “coward” for blocking her on X after Loomer criticized a Medal of Honor recipient. Loomer countered that Greene “owns Milo more than anyone” since she was aware of his immigration issues and “still kept him around.”
His Background
Yiannopoulos built his public profile in the mid-2010s as a Breitbart editor and provocateur before a series of controversies, including comments that appeared to condone relationships between adult men and underage boys, cost him that platform and a book deal. He later worked in various roles connected to Kanye West’s business ventures.
What Happens Next
With the removal order in place and Yiannopoulos reportedly already flown to the U.K., his path back into the United States would require overcoming the immigration violation on his record, something DHS has not indicated any willingness to reconsider.
Related from BeezLoop: Milo Yiannopoulos Says He's "Very Ashamed" of Backing Trump — After ICE Deported Him, Salazar Helped Fund ICE. Now That It's in Miami, She Says It Went Too Far and A Fox News Poll Says 53% Think Immigration Enforcement Has Gone Too Far.
