Milo Yiannopoulos, a well-known figure in right-wing circles, was deported from the United States shortly after his arrest in New Orleans. He had been living in the country illegally and was removed under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies.
Yiannopoulos, who is a British citizen, had been planning to release a new book under the imprint of Tucker Carlson, according to AOL. The book, titled Ex Gay, was set to be published by a company associated with the former Fox News anchor.
He had previously lost a book deal due to controversial remarks made in 2017 that sparked backlash. In that controversy, Yiannopoulos suggested that consensual relationships could occur between a 13-year-old boy and an adult.
Following the scandal, he resigned from Breitbart but continued to be active in conservative politics. He helped manage the 2024 presidential campaign of rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Yiannopoulos also worked as an unpaid intern for Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. His deportation drew attention because it matched the type of enforcement he had previously supported, according to a report from Newsweek.
He had advocated for aggressive immigration policies in recent years, including ICE checkpoints at supermarkets and gas stations, according to the source text. Yiannopoulos had also written that the U.S. should stop immigration for the next 20 years.
He was detained at the airport after DHS said he chose to ‘overstay his welcome’ in the country, The Hill reported. The Department of Homeland Security said he had chosen to overstay his welcome in the United States.
Yiannopoulos was born in Kent, England, and built a career there before becoming prominent in American conservative media. He became widely known during the rise of the alt-right movement and had a large following on social media.
Though his influence waned after several controversies, he remained active in right-wing circles. His profile resurfaced through his work with Ye and a short-lived campaign for the rapper.
Some critics have noted that his deportation was unusual given his past public support for strong immigration enforcement. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council said Yiannopoulos deserved due process and should not be held in abusive conditions.
He had previously stepped down from Breitbart after comments that appeared to condone pedophilia. Yiannopoulos wrote on social media that deporting millions of people was something he demanded the current administration deliver.
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