Milo Yiannopoulos was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, ICE said in a report. The agency said the British born conservative provocateur entered the United States legally in 2019 and overstayed his authorized period.
The Department of Homeland Security posted on X that being in detention is a choice and encouraged those here illegally to use the CBP Home App. DHS added the United States is offering $3,000 and a free flight to self deport, the post said.
The detention occurred in New Orleans on the same day the performer Ye was scheduled to appear there, the reporting noted. ICE identified the airport by its code MSY and said the apprehension took place in Kenner, Louisiana.
Laura Loomer, an online rival of Yiannopoulos, quickly claimed credit for bringing attention to his immigration status. Loomer wrote on X that she was the first to report he was in the United States illegally and said he would be deported back to the UK, according to the account quoted in the reporting.
Loomer also urged Attorney General Todd Blanche to investigate former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Reporting states Yiannopoulos had served as an intern in Greene’s congressional office, and the Daily Caller said it could not reach Yiannopoulos for comment.
Reactions And Implications
Officials framed the matter as an enforcement of existing immigration rules. DHS encouraged people in the United States without authorization to take advantage of voluntary departure offers and return legally if they wish to come back, the agency said.
The scrutiny of Yiannopoulos followed public criticism he directed at President Trump’s immigration policies, the reporting said. Loomer and other loyalists intensified attention on his status after those comments, according to the account.
The episode drew attention to the role of social media in highlighting immigration cases, with DHS and ICE using public posts to explain options for voluntary departure. The reporting leaves questions about next procedural steps and any potential legal hearings unaddressed.
