The Trump administration is pursuing the extradition of a pro-Palestinian activist who was arrested in Spain. US authorities have accused him of providing financial support to Hamas.
James “Fergie” Chambers was arrested on July 10 while vacationing in Ibiza and is being held in pretrial detention in Madrid. On Tuesday, Spain authorized the US extradition request to proceed through its courts.
Chambers is an heir to the family behind Cox Enterprises. In 2023, he reached an agreement with his family to sell his stake in the company worth approximately $250 million. He has subsequently used his wealth to fund left-wing and pro-Palestinian causes. He has also paid for the legal fees of members of Palestine Action, a group that has been designated a terrorist organization by both the US and the UK.
The self-described communist and anti-imperialist has a history of being critical of the US. In a 2024 interview, he called for his home country’s destruction, saying, “I think the most important thing for the prosperity of humanity is the destruction of the US.”
The exact federal indictment against Chambers has not been made public. According to a report by The Guardian, Chambers has been accused of laundering $7.5 million he wired from a US bank account to Tunisia, where he was living at the time. He then allegedly used that money to support Hamas.
His partner, activist Stella Schnabel, daughter of American artist Julian Schnabel, told the outlet last month that the funds were used to support a Tunisian soccer club. She said the funds were used to help pay down debts and salaries, rebuild a training center, and build soccer fields for youth. Additionally, Chambers’ legal team has argued that his wealth was legally obtained and the transfer did not constitute international money laundering.
The case is reportedly the first known instance of the US seeking to extradite an American citizen on allegations of providing support to Hamas. The lack of clarity regarding the charges has led Chambers’ legal team to argue that the extradition request is politically motivated.
Under Spanish law, extraditions cannot proceed if proven to be politically motivated. "This extradition would set an alarming precedent in Europe if Spain permits the Trump administration to criminalise humanitarian aid vital to the Palestinian people,” said Chambers’ lawyer, Balstar Garzon. Garzon has also filed an asylum application in Spain on Chambers’ behalf.
