Milo Yiannopoulos, a British national, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana, according to department records. The specific detention facility where Yiannopoulos is being held has not been disclosed, but ICE has directed family or legal representatives to contact the Enforcement and Removal Office in Alexandria, Louisiana, which serves as a processing center approximately 200 miles from New Orleans.
A spokesperson from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Yiannopoulos legally entered the United States through New York City in May 2019 but overstayed his visa. The spokesperson noted, "He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws." Yiannopoulos received a final order of removal from an Immigration Judge on July 22 after failing to attend his immigration hearing. He was detained on Thursday, August 27, and will remain in ICE custody pending removal.
TMZ was the first to report on Yiannopoulos' detention. He has previously resided and worked in the US, reportedly on an O-1 visa, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary abilities in various fields, including journalism. Yiannopoulos began his career in US politics at the right-wing website Breitbart, where he worked from 2014 to 2017. He left after facing backlash for controversial remarks regarding sexual relationships between adults and minors.
In 2022, Yiannopoulos claimed to have organized a dinner with Kanye West, white nationalist Nick Fuentes, and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He married his long-term boyfriend in Hawaii in 2017 but later claimed to have become heterosexual and Roman Catholic, announcing plans to open a gay conversion therapy facility in Florida. He has collaborated with Fuentes and former US representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Yiannopoulos also serves as a spokesman for Kanye West, who is scheduled to perform at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. He joined West's theoretical 2024 presidential campaign in late 2022 but distanced himself shortly after West made controversial remarks regarding Nazi beliefs. The two have had a tumultuous relationship, with Yiannopoulos alleging West has struggled with substance abuse.
Laura Loomer, a conspiracy theorist, commented on Yiannopoulos' detention, stating she was the first to report on his illegal status in the US. She expressed her approval of his detention, stating, "Today is a great day for America." Yiannopoulos has previously endorsed strict anti-immigration policies on social media, emphasizing the need for mass deportations.
Update, Friday August 28 at 5 pm: This story was updated to include a statement sent to WIRED by the US Department of Homeland Security.