New orleans: Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial internet figure and former supporter of US President Donald Trump, was deported to the UK after missing an immigration hearing, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Saturday. Yiannopoulos, 41, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Friday. Authorities said he failed to attend an immigration hearing in July, prompting an immigration judge to issue a final removal order on July 22, according to NBC.

According to Anadolu Agency, the DHS stated that Yiannopoulos legally entered the US through New York City on May 14, 2019, but later overstayed his immigration status. Yiannopoulos initially gained prominence through the far-right news organization Breitbart before the 2016 presidential election. His provocative speeches and appearances at US universities garnered widespread criticism. He parted ways with Breitbart in 2017 after controversial past remarks resurfaced.

Since his departure from Breitbart, Yiannopoulos has had conflicts with several far-right figures and mainstream Republicans. Although he broke with Trump in 2020, he continued to engage with figures linked to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. In 2024, Yiannopoulos collaborated with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, on his unsuccessful presidential campaign. Ye has faced widespread criticism over antisemitic remarks in recent years.