British political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the U.S. to the U.K. after immigration authorities detained him at a New Orleans airport, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Yiannopoulos, 41, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport after authorities said he failed to appear for an immigration hearing. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on July 22.
DHS said Yiannopoulos originally entered the U.S. legally in May 2019 but subsequently overstayed his authorized period in the country.
“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” DHS said in announcing his detention.
Reuters reported that Yiannopoulos was detained Thursday, Aug. 27, and deported to Britain the following day. The department publicly confirmed his removal Saturday.
Yiannopoulos became a prominent figure in conservative media during Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign and was an outspoken Trump supporter at the time. He later broke with figures in Trump’s political orbit and has worked with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
His detention came as Ye was scheduled to perform at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. NBC News reported that it was unclear whether Yiannopoulos was in Louisiana because of the concert.
Yiannopoulos previously served as a technology editor at Breitbart News before resigning in 2017 following controversy over comments he made about sexual relationships between adults and minors.
The comments also resulted in him being disinvited from speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Yiannopoulos later apologized and said he was not advocating illegal conduct, while also disclosing that he had been sexually abused as a teenager.
His immigration case drew additional attention because Yiannopoulos has publicly called for aggressive immigration enforcement.
In a June 2025 post cited by Reuters, he called for the deportation of “millions and millions and millions of people.” He has also advocated ICE checkpoints at locations including supermarkets, gas stations and government buildings.
The Trump administration highlighted Yiannopoulos’ arrest while promoting its voluntary departure program for immigrants without legal status.
“Being in detention is a choice,” DHS wrote in a social media post accompanying Yiannopoulos’ mug shot, according to NBC News.
The department encouraged people without lawful status to use the CBP Home application to arrange their departure. The administration has offered financial assistance and travel expenses to some migrants who voluntarily leave the country, per NBC News.
Conservative activist Laura Loomer also claimed on social media that she had reported Yiannopoulos to immigration authorities. NBC News reported her claim, but the available reporting does not establish what role, if any, her report played in ICE’s decision to arrest him.
Yiannopoulos was returned to his native United Kingdom following the removal order, ending his legal presence in the U.S. after more than seven years since his 2019 entry.
