An American independent journalist has alleged that he was detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at an Atlanta airport on August 20 and interrogated about a social media post criticizing Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The journalist, Ethan Levins, stated that he was questioned by two DHS agents after landing from Lebanon, where he had visited his girlfriend and family. According to Levins, the agents scanned his passport and placed it in a red folder before taking him to an interrogation room. They asked whether he had doxxed anyone or posted anything about Ben Gvir on X (formerly Twitter). Levins admitted to taking a screenshot of Ben Gvir’s office location via Google Maps.
During the three-hour interrogation, DHS agents repeatedly pressed Levins until he agreed to never post about Ben Gvir again. The agents also questioned whether Levins had contacts with Chinese, Iranian, or Russian officials and who had urged him to criticize Ben Gvir.
Levins revealed that on August 21, he wrote on X: “I was questioned by the Department of Homeland Security yesterday upon returning from Lebanon… Why I posted negative things about Israeli Minister Ben Gvir. I am a born American who lives in the United States, and they stopped me at the airport for an Israeli politician.” He added that if anything happens to him, he would signal it by ceasing social media posts. Levins expressed concern for his safety, stating: “I am an American Christian, and Israel is attacking me personally.”
Levins also shared a quote from Ben Gvir’s June 19 post on X: “For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!” The journalist emphasized that DHS agents did not question him about any American politicians but solely targeted Ben Gvir, writing: “Why is the DHS protecting him? I’m an American (born and raised!). Does my free speech stop with Gvir?”