US journalist says Homeland Security questioned him over Ben-Gvir criticism
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
US journalist Ethan Levins says he was detained and questioned by Department of Homeland Security personnel for three hours after returning from Lebanon, claiming the questioning focused on his social media posts criticizing 'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Levins said in posts on X that he was questioned after arriving back in the United States and that authorities focused on his comments about Ben-Gvir. He said the encounter did not involve questions about any US political figures.
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"I was detained by the Department of Homeland Security for three hours," Levins wrote. "They didn't ask a SINGLE QUESTION about the United States. They ONLY asked me about Israel and Ben Gvir."
I was detained by the Department of Homeland Security for 3 hours.
— Ethan Levins (@EthanLevins2) August 21, 2026
They didn’t ask a SINGLE QUESTION about the United States.
They ONLY asked me about Israel and Ben Gvir.
I’m an American, why does the DHS care so much about protecting Ben Gvir?
In another post, Levins added that authorities told him "never to speak on Ben Gvir again," and questioned why US officials were concerned about his criticism of an 'Israeli' politician.
Levins later said he was concerned that his political commentary could expose him to further scrutiny, writing that he feared for his safety after speaking out against an 'Israeli' minister.
DHS has not publicly commented on Levins' statement or the reason for the questioning.
