British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos, who publicly demanded aggressive immigration enforcement and immediate deportations in the United States, has been deported to the United Kingdom following his arrest by U.S. immigration authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security said Yiannopoulos was returned to Britain on Friday, August 28, one day after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. His completed removal was confirmed Saturday and reported by Reuters and the Associated Press.
Federal officials said Yiannopoulos entered the United States legally through New York City in May 2019 but remained after his authorized stay expired. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on July 22 after he failed to appear for an immigration hearing, according to DHS.
His deportation stands in sharp contrast to his own public rhetoric about people who violate U.S. immigration laws.
In a June 2025 social media post cited by Reuters, Yiannopoulos called for ICE checkpoints at supermarkets, gas stations, shopping centers, intersections and government buildings. He also advocated immediate deportation for anyone unable to demonstrate legal residency.
He promoted other uncompromising enforcement measures, including expanded protections for immigration agents and broader ICE operations across the country. Federal authorities have now subjected Yiannopoulos to the immigration system he urged the government to enforce aggressively against others.
Born in England and of partial Greek ancestry through his father, Yiannopoulos adopted the surname of his paternal grandmother. Although some social media reports have described him as “Greek-American,” he is a British national and has not been identified by authorities as an American citizen.
Yiannopoulos became prominent in the United States through his work as an editor at Breitbart News and his involvement in Gamergate. He later worked with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and briefly served as an intern in the congressional office of former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Authorities have not disclosed why Yiannopoulos was at the New Orleans airport when he was arrested. He had not publicly commented on his deportation as of Saturday.
