Milo Yiannopoulos, a British far-right political commentator and former Breitbart editor, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 27, 2026, at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana [1, 2, 3]. He legally entered the United States on May 14, 2019, but overstayed his visa, thereby violating immigration laws [1, 2].
An immigration judge issued a final order of removal against Yiannopoulos on July 22, 2026, after he failed to appear for his scheduled hearing [1, 2]. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, "Yiannopoulos legally entered the country in May 2019, but he chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws. Yiannopoulos was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on 22 July, after failing to show up for his immigration hearing. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal." [1]
As of August 28, 2026, Yiannopoulos remains in ICE custody, held near Alexandria, Louisiana, which is a major ICE deportation hub in the state [1, 4, 3]. He has been publicly associated with former US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and rapper Ye (Kanye West), who was touring New Orleans around the time of Yiannopoulos's detention [1, 4, 2].
Yiannopoulos has long supported strict immigration enforcement in the US. In June 2025, he publicly advocated for ICE checkpoints and on-the-spot deportations at locations such as supermarkets and gas stations in California, stating, "California needs ICE checkpoints at supermarket entrances, gas stations, strip malls, intersections and government buildings, with on the spot deportation for anyone who can’t prove they are in the US legally." [1, 2]
Far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed responsibility for reporting Yiannopoulos to ICE, saying, "I reported Milo Yiannopoulos to ICE, leading to his detention." [1]
Yiannopoulos previously worked as an editor at Breitbart News from 2014 until 2017 [4]. After his detention on August 27, no further release has been reported, and he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings [1, 2, 3].
