Streamer Hasan Piker detained, interrogated at US airport

Turkish-American progressive commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker says he was detained and subjected to intensive questioning by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after returning from an international trip this past weekend.

i got stopped by cbp at global entry for additional questioning. i’m out it wasn’t that bad. very strange experience overall though. https://t.co/pWlKt6kQGL

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) May 11, 2025

Piker, who streams under the name HasanAbi and is known for his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump, said the encounter took place at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after his flight from Paris on Sunday. Despite being a US citizen enrolled in the Global Entry program—designed to expedite border processing for low-risk travelers—Piker said he was pulled aside and taken to a detention room for what he described as a two-hour interrogation.

“They knew who I was and they were ready to receive me, let’s just say, and it wasn’t a very warm welcome,” said Piker, who has amassed more than 2.8 million followers on Twitch.

According to Piker, the CBP officer—whom he described as a “sympathetic” Iraqi American—asked pointed questions about his profession, political leanings, and views on Trump. The agent also reportedly asked whether Piker had any ties to groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis.

“They literally straight-up tried to get something out of me that I think they could use to basically detain me permanently, which is insane,” Piker said during a livestream. “Because there is no direct connection or direct involvement.”

Piker said he repeatedly emphasized his opposition to violence: “I was like: ‘I’m on the side of civilians. I want the endless bloodshed to end. I am a pacifist. I want wars to end.’”

When asked about his stance on Hamas, Piker responded by reiterating that it is designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department. “He just kept asking me over and over again, like Hamas, Houthis, all this s---, trying to be like: ‘Oh, do you support them? Do you like them? Like, what do you think about them?’” he said.

He added that he was more candid when asked about Trump, “I saw no reason to hold back on certain things. So I said I don’t like Trump. I was like, what are you going to do? It’s protected by the First Amendment.”

In a statement on Monday, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that Piker had been referred for additional screening but denied that the questioning was politically motivated. “Our officers are following the law, not agendas,” she said. “Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection — a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.”

McLaughlin did not clarify why Piker was selected for extended questioning or whether a two-hour interview is typical.

Piker’s experience comes amid growing scrutiny over the treatment of US citizens and residents who express pro-Palestinian views or criticize US foreign policy. In a similar incident last month, civil rights attorney Amir Makled said he was questioned at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and pressured to unlock his phone due to his involvement in high-profile cases supporting Palestinian activists.

While Piker said CBP agents did not attempt to search his phone, he was given a document advising him to contact the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program to report the incident.

“And he basically said, you know, you can figure out what not to do so that this doesn’t happen again,” Piker recounted. “And I suspect the what-not-to-do is just don’t be a political commentator that speaks about American foreign policy, which is not something I’m planning on stopping.”

He added that while he considered staying silent during the questioning, he chose to speak out, knowing that his public profile gave him a level of protection many others might not have. “This is my birthright. I’m an American citizen,” he said. “You can’t just stop me at the border and be like, ‘What’s your opinion on Donald Trump? You’re not allowed to enter the nation.’”