Timeline of Milo Yiannopoulos' Ties With Trump and Kanye West Amid ICE Arrest

Far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Friday, according to agency records reviewed by Newsweek, renewing attention on his yearslong ties to both President Donald Trump's MAGA movement and rapper Kanye West's political and business ventures.

The British-born activist was detained in Louisiana while in New Orleans ahead of a scheduled concert by West, according to CBS News.

## Why Was Milo Yiannopoulos Arrested by ICE?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek via email that Yiannopoulos was arrested by ICE at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on August 27 after allegedly overstaying his visa. The agency said the British national entered the United States legally through New York in May 2019 but later remained in the country unlawfully, describing him as having "chosen to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation's laws."

DHS said an immigration judge issued Yiannopoulos a final order of removal on July 22 after he failed to appear for an immigration hearing. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, the department said.

Newsweek reached out to DHS via email Friday night seeking additional information on Yiannopoulos' potential deportation.

The agency also pointed to the case as evidence of the Trump administration's tougher immigration enforcement policies. In a statement, DHS said it had ended what it called a "Biden-era policy" that allowed people in the country illegally to travel domestically by air and warned that those who do not leave voluntarily could face arrest and deportation.

Conservative political activist Laura Loomer claimed credit for Yiannopoulos' ICE detention, resharing a post from March in which she'd accused him of living in the U.S. with an expired visa. "Milo Yiannopoulos is in ICE custody after I exposed his illegal alien lifestyle," the Trump ally wrote on X.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, also said on X Friday, "Milo Yiannopoulos deserves full due process, and like everyone else, should not be subject to abusive conditions in detention. But he appears to be reaping what he has sowed, so I can't find myself sympathetic."

## Milo Yiannopoulos and Donald Trump Ties Explained

Yiannopoulos first became nationally known during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as a Breitbart editor and one of the most prominent figures associated with the emerging "alt-right" movement.

Although he fell from grace in conservative circles following a 2017 controversy over remarks about relationships between adults and teenage boys, he remained a recognizable figure in Trump-world politics and among some MAGA activists for years afterward.

## Milo Yiannopoulos and Kanye West Ties Explained

His most significant role in recent years came through his association with West, now known as Ye. In 2022, Yiannopoulos became involved in the rapper's political orbit as West explored a 2024 presidential run and generated controversy with a string of antisemitic remarks and other inflammatory statements.

Yiannopoulos stepped away from West's campaign in December 2022.

"Ye and I have come to the mutual conclusion that I should step away from his political team. Ye is a genius whom I have come to love and respect. We remain friends. I will continue to pray for Ye and all his endeavors," Yiannopoulos wrote on his Telegram channel Sunday.

In a separate post, which appears to have been deleted but was viewed and captured in a screenshot by Newsweek at the time, the far-right provocateur suggested he and West disagreed over staffing for the 2024 campaign.

"For the record, I had concerns about a potential new hire, but I never tried to get anyone fired-especially not people I personally brought in, who owe me their gratitude, loyalty and respect," Yiannopoulos wrote in the now-deleted post.

### What Is Milo Yiannopoulos' View on Immigration?

For years, the British-born political commentator has been one of the most outspoken advocates of hard-line immigration enforcement, frequently calling for mass deportations and an expanded role for ICE.

"Zero immigration for the next 20 years. No ifs, no buts," Yiannopoulos wrote on X last year.

Yiannopoulos has repeatedly argued that immigration enforcement should be a top priority for Republican administrations. In social media posts highlighted in recent reporting, he called for the deportation of "millions and millions of people," writing that "without that, nothing else matters."

He has also backed a significantly heightened enforcement presence by ICE. According to multiple reports, Yiannopoulos suggested California should have ICE checkpoints at locations including supermarkets, gas stations and government buildings, coupled with immediate deportation for people unable to prove they were legally present in the U.S. He has additionally advocated for broader protections for immigration officers carrying out enforcement actions.

The development Friday places Yiannopoulos in the unusual position of facing the same immigration enforcement system he spent years urging the government to strengthen.

## Where Is Milo Yiannopoulos From?

Yiannopoulos was born in Kent, England, and is a British citizen. Before becoming a prominent figure in U.S. conservative politics, he built a career in the United Kingdom as a technology journalist and commentator. He later moved to the United States, where he gained national attention through his work at Breitbart News and his support for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

His profile grew rapidly during the rise of the alt-right movement, with speaking tours, media appearances and a large social media following helping make him one of the era's most recognizable conservative commentators. While his influence declined after a series of controversies, he remained active in right-wing political circles and later resurfaced through his work with West.

## Is Milo Yiannopoulos a US Citizen?

Yiannopoulos is a citizen of the U.K. and not a United States citizen. ICE's detainee database identified him as a British national.

Yiannopoulos said in 2017, after resigning as an editor from Breitbart News, that he owned an O-1 visa, which works as a temporary work permit for people with "extraordinary ability or achievement in fields like science, business, education, athletics, or the arts."

## Milo Yiannopoulos' Nick Fuentes Connection

Yiannopoulos and far-right activist Nick Fuentes became closely associated through their shared involvement in West's orbit in 2022. Both men emerged as key advisers to West during his short-lived presidential ambitions and accompanied the rapper to a highly publicized dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022. The meeting generated widespread attention because of Fuentes' history of white nationalist and antisemitic remarks.

The relationship between the three men helped place Yiannopoulos back in the national spotlight after several years outside mainstream conservative politics.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Sam Wilson, Anna Commander