Milo Yiannopoulos, the British far-right commentator and self-described internet troll, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday, August 27, at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

What DHS Says Happened

A DHS spokesperson said Yiannopoulos, 41, legally entered the United States on May 14, 2019, through New York City, but "chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation's laws." According to the department, an immigration judge issued a final order of removal on July 22 after Yiannopoulos failed to appear for a scheduled immigration hearing. He is currently in ICE custody pending removal, held at a facility in Louisiana. ICE's online detainee locator does not specify the exact location, but directs family members and legal representatives to the agency's office in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Why He Was in New Orleans

According to TMZ, which first reported the arrest, Yiannopoulos was in the New Orleans area because Kanye West (Ye) was scheduled to perform Friday night at the Caesars Superdome. Yiannopoulos has close ties to West, having served as his chief of staff for nearly two years and as director of political operations during Ye's 2020 and 2024 presidential runs. He also worked at West's Yeezy clothing brand before resigning roughly two years ago, following West's announcement that he was launching an adult entertainment studio under the Yeezy name. It remains unclear whether Yiannopoulos was in Louisiana specifically to attend the concert.

The Irony of the Arrest

Yiannopoulos has been a vocal, public supporter of aggressive ICE enforcement in the past, making the circumstances of his own detention notable. In June 2025, he posted on X: "California needs ICE checkpoints at supermarket entrances, gas stations, strip malls, intersections and government buildings, with on-the-spot deportation for anyone who can't prove they are in the US legally." That same month, he wrote: "We have got to deport millions and millions of people." In September 2025, he called for "total legal immunity for ICE agents when they're on duty."

A Feud That Played a Role

Fellow far-right commentator Laura Loomer, who has publicly feuded with Yiannopoulos for years, took credit for the arrest, writing on X: "I was the first person to report on the fact that Milo was in the US illegally where he incited violence against President Trump and worked for Marjorie Traitor Greene." Loomer separately claimed to have reported Yiannopoulos to both ICE and the FBI, and called for the Justice Department to investigate former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — for whom Yiannopoulos previously interned — over her past association with him.

A Long, Polarizing Public History

Yiannopoulos has been a controversial figure in American politics for more than a decade. Hired by Breitbart News in 2014 by then-executive chairman Steve Bannon, he rose to national prominence during his 2017 "Troll Academy Tour" of college campuses, which sparked protests and clashes over accusations of hate speech, while supporters praised him as a free-speech advocate. He was permanently banned from Twitter for several years over hateful attacks against comedian Leslie Jones, and has previously worked alongside far-right commentator Nick Fuentes. His relationship with Trump has shifted over the years, moving from vocal supporter to more recent critic.

Personal Background

Yiannopoulos, who is openly gay and married a man in Hawaii in 2017, later said in 2021 that he was attempting to "pray the gay away," describing himself as "ex-gay" in an interview with an anti-LGBTQ outlet, and referring to his husband at the time as having been "demoted to housemate."

What's Next

With a final removal order already in place, Yiannopoulos remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings back to the United Kingdom. It's unclear how quickly that process will move forward, or whether he intends to pursue any further legal challenge. For continuing coverage, see the CBS News report.