Summary
Hasan Piker, a well-known online personality, says he was detained by officials at a US airport due to his political views. US authorities denied targeting him for his beliefs and described the inspection as routine.
Key Facts
- Hasan Piker has over six million followers on platforms like Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
- Piker claims he was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport after returning from France.
- He states he was questioned about his views on the Middle East and political topics, including Donald Trump.
- US official Tricia McLaughlin said the inspection was routine and not related to Piker's political beliefs.
- Customs and Border Protection stated they were following the law and released Piker promptly after the inspection.
- Piker expressed concern that his questioning aimed to intimidate him and silence dissenting voices.
- His experience follows similar incidents where US immigration officials detained pro-Palestine student protesters.
- The White House has mentioned a crackdown on anti-semitism on college campuses, referencing immigration enforcement actions.
