Key facts
- Milo Yiannopoulos was arrested and deported from the US to the UK.
- He described his detention as terrifying, humiliating, and physically degrading.
- Yiannopoulos expressed shame for his past support of Donald Trump's immigration agenda.
- The DHS stated Yiannopoulos overstayed his visa; he disputes this, claiming he was renewing a green card.
- Yiannopoulos alleged irregularities in his case, including outdated notices and cancellation of his work permit.
British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos has spoken out about his recent arrest and deportation from the United States, describing the experience as "terrifying," "humiliating," and "physically degrading." Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Yiannopoulos expressed shame for his past support of Donald Trump's immigration agenda and the broader political movement.
Yiannopoulos, 41, stated that he would never have supported Trump if he had foreseen the direction of his administration and its associated figures. He contrasted the perceived "promise and hope" of Trump's 2016 campaign with what he now views as an "ugly, warmongering, whole mentally ill heap of crazy."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Yiannopoulos at New Orleans airport on August 29 and deported him the following day. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Yiannopoulos overstayed a visa issued in May 2019 and failed to appear for a July immigration hearing. Yiannopoulos disputes this, claiming he was unaware of the hearing and that notices were sent to an old address. He asserts he was renewing a green card, is married to an American, and had no reason to overstay a visa.
He further alleged that his "exceptional alien" visa had not expired and that his work permit was canceled without his knowledge. Yiannopoulos claimed ICE deliberately excluded his attorney and that two arresting agents recognized him and refused to participate in the deportation. He described the arrest as unusually harsh, detailing being chained, denied food for 24 hours, and moved between facilities.
Following his deportation, Yiannopoulos returned to the UK and resumed his work managing lawyers for rapper Kanye West, who he said was concerned for his well-being.