Milo Yiannopoulos Arrested by U.S. Immigration Authorities in New Orleans
U.S. immigration authorities arrested British conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos in New Orleans on Thursday after determining that he had overstayed his legal admission to the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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DHS said Yiannopoulos was taken into custody at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. He originally entered the United States legally in May 2019 through New York City but later remained in the country beyond the period permitted by immigration authorities.
An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on July 22 after Yiannopoulos failed to appear for an immigration hearing, according to a DHS spokesperson. The agency said his detention was part of ongoing immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee locator did not identify the facility where Yiannopoulos was being held. However, it directed family members and legal representatives to an ICE office in Alexandria, Louisiana, which serves as a deportation center for international flights.
Representatives for Yiannopoulos did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it was unclear whether he had legal counsel.
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Yiannopoulos has remained active in conservative political circles and has most recently worked with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Ye was scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday.
The British commentator became widely known in the early 2010s through his provocative writing and appearances on conservative media. He was a prominent figure at Breitbart News before leaving the organization in 2017 following renewed controversy over past comments he had made concerning sexual relationships between adults and minors. Yiannopoulos later apologized and said he had been sexually assaulted as a minor.
He has frequently criticized feminism, Islam and immigration while expressing strong support for President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. In a post on X last year, Yiannopoulos called for a complete halt to immigration for two decades.
His public profile grew further in 2017 when he launched a college-campus speaking tour known as the “Troll Academy Tour.” Several appearances were disrupted by protests and clashes between supporters and opponents, with critics accusing him of promoting hate speech while supporters portrayed him as a free-speech advocate.
Yiannopoulos later remained involved in conservative political activism. In 2022, he worked as an intern for former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to reports. He also served as campaign manager for Ye’s short-lived 2024 presidential bid and later worked as a spokesperson for the rapper.
His arrest comes as U.S. immigration authorities have intensified enforcement and detention efforts under the Trump administration.
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Conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly welcomed the arrest, despite years of public disputes between her and Yiannopoulos.
Correction: Yiannopoulos entered the United States legally in 2019. Earlier versions incorrectly described his entry as illegal. The report was also updated to clarify that he was arrested on Thursday, not Friday.