Leftist Twitch icon and LGBTQ ally Hasan Piker says he got a not-so-warm welcome back to the U.S. when border agents allegedly grilled him about his politics at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The 33-year-old, known online as HasanAbi, told his fans he was stopped by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers after landing from France. And according to him, the questions quickly turned from travel-related to very personal — and very political.
“It was an insane situation,” he told his followers. “It’s very obvious that they know exactly who I was.” He said CBP officials asked about his views on Donald Trump, the war in Gaza, and his wildly popular left-leaning livestreams. “They had clearly prepared for the conversation,” he added, calling it “really interesting” how smoothly they navigated the interrogation.
From Livestreams to Leftist Litmus Tests?
While Piker noted that the interaction was oddly “cordial,” the implications of the encounter were far from friendly. “They’re not even disputing that it happened,” he said, “they’re omitting the insane questions that were asked and instead claiming that I wasn’t targeted for my political beliefs.”
CBP officials released a statement saying Piker’s screening was routine, with one spokesperson dismissing his claims as “lying for likes.” But Piker didn’t back down, claiming the incident is part of a larger trend to intimidate dissenters. “They’re trying to create an environment of fear,” he warned.
This is hardly a private matter — Piker’s reach and influence among Gen Z progressives is massive. He regularly collaborates with LGBTQ figures and allies like Vivian Jenna Wilson and politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, using his platform to champion queer rights and challenge conservative narratives. For many young LGBTQ viewers, Piker isn’t just another streamer — he’s a voice of validation.
LGBTQ+ Community Takes Note
While this may seem like a political spat between a government agency and a political commentator, the LGBTQ+ community knows how quickly state scrutiny of political beliefs can spill into identity policing. LGBTQ individuals, particularly those of color and those critical of state policies, have historically faced similar targeting at borders and airports.
Hasan Piker’s case adds fuel to that fire, raising alarms about who gets “randomly” stopped and why. “Even if they were polite,” one queer activist noted online, “being questioned on your politics at the border is intimidation. Period.”
Whether the CBP intended it or not, Piker’s story is now a cautionary tale for LGBTQ allies and activists traveling internationally. When the price of political expression is an unexpected interrogation at the airport, the message is chilling: dissent may be legal, but it won’t go unnoticed.
As queer communities face ongoing political attacks across the U.S., the detainment of a high-profile ally like Hasan Piker feels like yet another red flag in an already-fraught moment.