Hasan Piker, a popular political streamer known as HasanAbi, found himself detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after returning from Paris.
The incident occurred on Sunday when Piker attempted to re-enter the country through Global Entry.
What began as a routine process quickly escalated into an interrogation about his political views and online content.
Piker Questions the Motive Behind the Interrogation
In a video posted the following Monday, Piker recounted his experience.
It all started when the CBP agent asked about his occupation, which led to more probing questions about his online content and coverage of political topics, including his views on former President Donald Trump.
The question about Trump raised a red flag for Piker, who shared his concerns with the agent.
“Why are you asking me this?” Piker asked, challenging the agent’s line of questioning.
Piker didn’t shy away from expressing his opinion on the former president, stating, “I don’t like Trump.
What are you going to do? It’s protected by the First Amendment.”
Piker Defends His Rights Under the First Amendment
Piker was quick to assert that nothing he had done online was illegal.
“Everything I’ve done is fully protected under the First Amendment,” he said, while expressing concern about potential future changes in laws regarding free speech.
However, Piker remained firm in his belief that his views, even if controversial, were well within his rights to express.
Homeland Security Responds to Allegations
In response to Piker’s claims, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, denied that his political beliefs influenced the inspection.
She explained that the inspection was simply a routine process that happens daily for many travelers.
“This individual was referred for further inspection—a routine, lawful process that occurs daily,” McLaughlin said.
She also emphasized that Piker was released promptly after the inspection.
Suspicion Over Terrorist Ties and Controversial Interviews
As the conversation continued, Piker said that the real reason behind his detention was an investigation into his potential connections with terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Piker acknowledged the controversy surrounding an interview he conducted earlier this year with Rashid Al Haddad, a young man with alleged ties to the Houthis, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
While Piker denied any direct connection to these groups, the interview sparked backlash, and the CBP agent seemed focused on this incident during the questioning.
Piker defended his actions, stating that as a journalist, he had the right to conduct interviews with individuals from various backgrounds, even if they were linked to controversial groups.
Ongoing Questions About Political Views and Support for Terrorist Groups
The questioning soon turned to whether Piker supported Hamas or viewed them as a resistance group.
Piker was firm in his response, stating that he supported civilians and wanted an end to the violence.
He acknowledged the U.S. State Department’s designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization but clarified that he was not in support of violence or terrorism.
The agent continued to press Piker on his views regarding the Houthis, specifically asking if he agreed with their designation as a terrorist group.
Piker explained that he opposed the Trump administration’s decision to label the Houthis as terrorists, aligning with the position of the Brookings Institution, which argued that such a designation would harm Yemeni civilians and peace efforts.
The Conclusion of the Interrogation
After nearly two hours of questioning, Piker was finally allowed to leave.
The conversation ended when Piker asked if he was being detained or if he could freely walk out.
The agent did not respond, and Piker made his exit, but not without leaving behind some unresolved questions about the motivations behind his detention and the extent to which his political beliefs influenced the interrogation.