• Hasan Piker was detained by Customs and Border Protection at O'Hare Airport after returning from France.
• Questions focused on his views on President Trump, Hamas, and the U.S.-Israel relationship.
• Piker claims his detention is indicative of the Trump administration's broader immigration policies.
• The incident has raised concerns about civil liberties and the legitimacy of border questioning.
• U.S. officials, including Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed the detention but deny it was politically motivated.

Hasan Piker, a prominent left-wing Twitch streamer and political commentator, was detained for over two hours by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport upon returning from a trip to France. Piker accused the officials of attempting to elicit incriminating responses regarding his political views, particularly about President Donald Trump and international issues, including Hamas and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. He described the questioning as “insane” and suggested the administration was trying to intimidate dissenters, according to HuffPost, Newsweek, and CBS News.

Piker claimed the CBP officers used probing questions aimed at gauging his political sentiments, with one agent repeatedly asking if he supported Hamas. “The reason for why they’re doing that is to try to create an environment of fear,” Piker stated, explaining his reflections during a Twitch livestream. He recounted feeling that the agents were attempting to compel him into making a statement that would justify further detention, as reported by HuffPost and Newsweek.

During his detention, Piker was taken to a separate room where CBP officers interrogated him about his views on the Gaza conflict and U.S. politics. He expressed disbelief at the legality of such questions, asserting that they infringe upon his First Amendment rights. “Everything I’ve done is fully protected under the First Amendment,” he declared, challenging the agents’ authority to question his political opinions, as mentioned by CBS News.

Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed Piker's detention but indicated that the questioning was routine and lawful. “Our officers are following the law, not agendas,” she stated, contradicting Piker's assertion that the questioning was politically charged. Civil rights advocates and some legal experts have expressed concerns that such detentions may cross constitutional boundaries, highlighting an increasing scrutiny at borders, according to HuffPost, Newsweek, and CBS News.

Piker, who holds Global Entry status, noted the bizarre nature of the experience, saying he felt aware that they knew who he was as a public figure. He stated, "I want the endless bloodshed to end. I am a pacifist. I want wars to end," while reiterating the importance of civil liberties and the right to free speech, highlighting how border policies may impact individuals differently based on their political stature. This incident raises broader questions regarding immigration enforcement under the current administration and its implications for civil liberties, according to HuffPost, Newsweek, and CBS News.