Latest news with #TurkishAmerican
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker says he was detained, asked "Do you like Donald Trump?" at Chicago O'Hare
U.S.-born left-wing streamer Hasan Piker says he was questioned for hours at O'Hare U.S.-born left-wing streamer Hasan Piker says he was questioned for hours at O'Hare U.S.-born left-wing streamer Hasan Piker says he was questioned for hours at O'Hare Popular Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker, who has more than 2 million followers on the live-streaming platform, said he was detained and questioned by federal authorities at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for more than two hours after arriving in the U.S. on an international flight. This happened as Piker, 33, was headed to speak at the University of Chicago on Sunday after he returned from a family vacation in Paris. Piker, a prominent Turkish American live streamer who has openly spoken out against the war in Gaza, told the Institute of Politics crowd at UChicago that he believes he was targeted at O'Hare for his criticism of the Trump administration. No video of the interaction has surfaced — but Piker had some specific claims about his interaction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. "They took me to the back room, into a detention center. An agent came out and took me into the interrogation room … and they started asking me about crazy [expletive], like, 'Do you like Donald Trump?'" he said. The American-born Twitch streamer and left-wing political commentator recounted at length to his millions of followers his two-hour encounter with federal agents after he arrived in Chicago from Paris. He claims he was asked not only about the president, but he was also questioned about his opinions on Israel, Hamas and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. "Everything I've done is fully protected under the First Amendment, OK?" Piker said. "And none of these questions are actually valid questions to ask." Piker said this applies no matter what one's political beliefs are. "It's illegal for them to even ask me those questions, like, they can't deny me entry into my own country," Piker said. "It's like, even if I was like, 'I love Hamas,' they can't do that. Like, what do you mean?" U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged that Piker was detained, but took issue with his account of what happened. McLaughlin said: "This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless. Our officers are following the law, not agendas." Piker, who said he has Global Entry, the CBP program for pre-approved and low-risk travelers, addressed McLaughlin's comments on a Tuesday live stream. "They openly admit to it taking place, right?" he said. "Saying that I'm lying for likes is very funny, because they don't even deny that it took place (or) deny that it was a political targeting." CBS News Chicago took the issue to legal analyst Irv Miller, who said the location is important here. "I suspect because this happened in an airport — an entry point into the country — that there were cameras everywhere," Miller said. Miller said international travelers do give up certain Fourth Amendment rights to search and seizure — but there is a line. "Immigration has an absolute right to ask you who you are, and to see your identification — but they don't have a right to ask you questions and demand answers of things other than your identity and your citizenship," Miller said. Miller said travelers always have a Fifth Amendment right to stay silent, but acknowledged that doing so has practical problems. Anyone who stays silent may be held longer, particularly at a time when border enforcement is an administration priority. "The government is trying to be tougher. It is trying to be more invasive, and it's getting close to that line whether or not something is constitutional or not constitutional," said Miller, "and it always ends up in the courts." Miller said he tells clients to go with the flow until they feel uncomfortable, at which point they can ask for a supervisor. Piker said Tuesday that he was answering some of the questions while he was detained, instead of choosing to stay silent, because he wanted to see the line of questioning. He was released and has since returned to Los Angeles.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Twitch streamer HasanAbi detained, questioned by border agents: Report
The Brief Twitch star Hasan Piker says he was detained and questioned at O'Hare Airport Sunday. He claims federal officers asked about his political views, Trump, and Hamas. DHS says the questioning was routine and dismissed claims of political targeting. Hasan Piker, a popular Turkish American political commentator known for criticizing President Donald Trump, says he was detained and interrogated by federal agents after landing at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport over the weekend. Piker, who streams to nearly 3 million followers on Twitch under the handle HasanAbi, detailed the experience Monday in a 40-minute video, saying he was held for hours and questioned about his opinions on Trump and Hamas. The incident took place Sunday after a flight from Paris. The backstory Piker, 33, said he was detained despite being a U.S.-born citizen and enrolled in Global Entry, a federal program meant to expedite customs clearance for low-risk travelers. "The government is now officially willing and able to intimidate you for your speech," he said, calling it a violation of First Amendment rights. The online broadcaster, who frequently voices criticism of U.S. foreign policy, Israel, and the war in Gaza, suggested the detention was politically motivated. "The goal here is to put fear into people's hearts, to have a chilling effect on speech," he said during the livestream. The other side The Department of Homeland Security denied that politics played any role. "This is nothing but lying for likes," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. "Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released." Federal officials said the questioning was "routine and lawful," though they did not provide further details on what prompted it or what was asked during the interview. Big picture view The incident comes amid rising concern over Trump's approach to dissent, especially following crackdowns on pro-Palestinian student protests and controversial immigration enforcement tactics. Critics say the administration is increasingly using state power to intimidate activists and critics. Last month, a Palestinian student protest leader was arrested during what he believed was an interview for citizenship. Similar episodes have involved U.S. citizens mistakenly caught in immigration sweeps. What they're saying Piker, who lives in Los Angeles and was raised in Turkey, says he isn't backing down. "I'm not intimidated," he said in his video. "I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing." He has more than 1.6 million YouTube subscribers and remains one of the most prominent progressive voices in online political commentary. The Source This article is based on Associated Press reporting and Hasan Piker's public statements via YouTube and Twitch. Additional context includes statements from the Department of Homeland Security and recent federal immigration enforcement actions. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular Turkish American online political commentator detained, questioned at Chicago airport
CHICAGO (AP) — A popular Turkish American online streamer who is critical of President Donald Trump was recently detained and questioned at O'Hare International Airport after his flight from Paris landed in Chicago. Hasan Piker, who has 2.8 million followers on Twitch, recounted his experience online Monday saying he was questioned for hours a day earlier despite being born in the U.S. and enrolled in Global Entry, a federal program allowing low-risk passengers to travel through customs and passport control quickly. Piker believes he was targeted because of his views and said Customs and Border Protection officers asked his opinion of Trump and Hamas, among other topics. The liberal political commentator is frequently critical of Israel and the war in Gaza. 'The goal here is to put fear into people's hearts, to have a chilling effect on speech,' Piker recounted in a detailed nearly 40-minute long account on his YouTube channel. 'The government is now officially willing and able to intimidate you for your speech. That is a direct violation of the First Amendment.' Piker did not have comment Tuesday beyond his Twitch stream a day earlier, according to a spokesman. The hours-long broadcast on the live streaming platform included the same account posted on YouTube along with Piker's commentary on other topics and his speaking engagement at the University of Chicago. Federal officials dismissed Piker's account of the detention on Tuesday, calling the questioning 'routine and lawful' and something that can apply to any traveler. 'This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless,' Tricia McLaughlin, U.S. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, said in a statement. 'Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.' The Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration and student protests have also increased worries among U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents navigating the last steps to citizenship. Recent immigration arrests have mistakenly swept up U.S. citizens in Illinois,Florida and other places. Trump has deemed the pro-Palestinian campus protests as 'anti-American' while critics say student arrests are part of an unprecedented attack on the freedom of speech. Last month a Palestinian man who led protests against the war in Gaza as a student was arrested during what he thought was an interview about his citizenship. Federal officials declined to give further details about Piker's detention, including what prompted the extensive questioning. Piker, also known as HasanAbi on Twitch, was born in New Jersey. The 33-year-old was raised in Turkey. He lives in Los Angeles. 'I'm not intimidated," he said on YouTube, where he has 1.6 million subscribers. 'I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing.' Sophia Tareen, The Associated Press
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular Turkish American online political commentator detained, questioned at Chicago airport
CHICAGO (AP) — A popular Turkish American online streamer who is critical of President Donald Trump was recently detained and questioned at O'Hare International Airport after his flight from Paris landed in Chicago. Hasan Piker, who has 2.8 million followers on Twitch, recounted his experience online Monday saying he was questioned for hours a day earlier despite being born in the U.S. and enrolled in Global Entry, a federal program allowing low-risk passengers to travel through customs and passport control quickly. Piker believes he was targeted because of his views and said Customs and Border Protection officers asked his opinion of Trump and Hamas, among other topics. The liberal political commentator is frequently critical of Israel and the war in Gaza. 'The goal here is to put fear into people's hearts, to have a chilling effect on speech,' Piker recounted in a detailed nearly 40-minute long account on his YouTube channel. 'The government is now officially willing and able to intimidate you for your speech. That is a direct violation of the First Amendment.' Piker did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment. Federal officials dismissed Piker's account of the detention on Tuesday, calling the questioning 'routine and lawful' and something that can apply to any traveler. 'This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless,' Tricia McLaughlin, U.S. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, said in a statement. 'Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.' The Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration and student protests have also increased worries among U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents navigating the last steps to citizenship. Recent immigration arrests have mistakenly swept up U.S. citizens in Illinois,Florida and other places. Trump has deemed the pro-Palestinian campus protests as 'anti-American' while critics say student arrests are part of an unprecedented attack on the freedom of speech. Last month a Palestinian man who led protests against the war in Gaza as a student was arrested during what he thought was an interview about his citizenship. Federal officials declined to give further details about Piker's detention, including what prompted the extensive questioning. Piker, also known as HasanAbi on Twitch, spoke at the University of Chicago on Tuesday. Born in New Jersey, the 33-year-old was raised in Turkey. He lives in Los Angeles. 'I'm not intimidated," he said on YouTube, where he has 1.6 million subscribers. 'I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing.'
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Popular Turkish American online political commentator detained, questioned at Chicago airport
CHICAGO (AP) — A popular Turkish American online streamer who is critical of President Donald Trump was recently detained and questioned at O'Hare International Airport after his flight from Paris landed in Chicago. Hasan Piker, who has 2.8 million followers on Twitch, recounted his experience online Monday saying he was questioned for hours a day earlier despite being born in the U.S. and enrolled in Global Entry, a federal program allowing low-risk passengers to travel through customs and passport control quickly. Piker believes he was targeted because of his views and said Customs and Border Protection officers asked his opinion of Trump and Hamas, among other topics. The liberal political commentator is frequently critical of Israel and the war in Gaza. 'The goal here is to put fear into people's hearts, to have a chilling effect on speech,' Piker recounted in a detailed nearly 40-minute long account on his YouTube channel. 'The government is now officially willing and able to intimidate you for your speech. That is a direct violation of the First Amendment.' Piker did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment. Federal officials dismissed Piker's account of the detention on Tuesday, calling the questioning 'routine and lawful' and something that can apply to any traveler. 'This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless,' Tricia McLaughlin, U.S. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, said in a statement. 'Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration and student protests have also increased worries among U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents navigating the last steps to citizenship. Recent immigration arrests have mistakenly swept up U.S. citizens in Illinois, Florida and other places. Trump has deemed the pro-Palestinian campus protests as 'anti-American' while critics say student arrests are part of an unprecedented attack on the freedom of speech. Last month a Palestinian man who led protests against the war in Gaza as a student was arrested during what he thought was an interview about his citizenship. Federal officials declined to give further details about Piker's detention, including what prompted the extensive questioning. Piker, also known as HasanAbi on Twitch, spoke at the University of Chicago on Tuesday. Born in New Jersey, the 33-year-old was raised in Turkey. He lives in Los Angeles. 'I'm not intimidated,' he said on YouTube, where he has 1.6 million subscribers. 'I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing.'
