Recently, a New Hampshire real estate attorney, Bachir Atallah, who is an American citizen, reported being detained at the border as he returned home from Canada. The incident occurred on Sunday while Atallah and his wife, Jessica Fakhri, were reentering the country via Vermont. Atallah, who has been a U.S. citizen for a decade, voiced his shock and dismay at how he was treated during the incident.
Alleged Unfair Treatment at the Border
Bachir Atallah recounted that he was ordered to exit his vehicle by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, who had his hand on his gun. Atallah, who had been celebrating Palm Sunday with his family just hours before, was then allegedly handcuffed and led away whilst his wife watched from their car. “I literally drove my car to Canada for the weekend, and on the way back, I was treated like a criminal,” said Atallah.
Dispute Over the Incident
An official for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol dismissed Atallah’s account as “blatantly false and sensationalized.” However, Atallah insisted that he was subjected to rough treatment and was even denied an explanation for his detention. He also claimed that his requests for medical attention, due to high blood pressure, were met with an intimidating response from the border patrol agents.
Privacy Concerns
Atallah, who is an attorney, noted a particularly distressing part of his ordeal when CBP agents insisted on inspecting his emails. Citing attorney-client privilege, Atallah initially refused but eventually acquiesced under duress. He was then made to write and sign a statement consenting to the search of his email.
Legal Action and Concerns for the Future
After approximately five hours, Atallah and his wife were finally released. The couple is now pursuing legal action over the incident. Atallah is scheduled to travel to Lebanon soon, and he expressed concerns about potential issues upon his return to the U.S. He expressed disappointment at the current state of affairs, saying, “I really thought things would change after this administration… things actually changed to the worse.”
Customs and Border Protection’s Response
In response to the allegations, Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham of Customs and Border Protection maintained that the accusations were sensationalized and blatantly false. He insisted that the officers had acted in accordance with established protocols and that an attorney-client privilege was respected during the electronic media search. He also emphasized that the traveler had provided written consent to a limited search of his electronic device.
