Political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday in Louisiana. The 41-year-old British native is being held at a detention center, according to the agency’s online detainee database.
Yiannopoulos was apprehended by immigration enforcement officers at a Louisiana airport, sources told TMZ. He was in the state ahead of a scheduled Friday night concert by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. Yiannopoulos previously served as chief of staff for Ye and as director of political operations during the rapper's 2024 presidential campaign.
The specific reason for the apprehension has not been publicly released by authorities. Influencer Laura Loomer stated on social media that she reported his immigration status to ICE and the FBI. Loomer alleged in December that Yiannopoulos had overstayed his visa and was residing in the U.S. illegally, including at the homes of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and podcaster Candace Owens.
Yiannopoulos has previously expressed support for ICE operations—including a social media post in June 2025 calling for "total legal immunity" for agents and "on the spot deportation" for those who cannot prove they are in the U.S. legally.
What happens next depends on the Department of Homeland Security's determination of Yiannopoulos's legal status. No specific court dates have been reported at this time.