US citizen says he and his wife detained without explanation after returning from Canada
Source: CNN via AOL News
An American citizen says he and his wife were detained for hours by US border agents when they returned to the United States after a short trip to Canada.
Bachir Atallah told CNN he and his wife, Jessica, were driving back into the US Sunday evening after visiting family in Canada for the weekend when U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents stopped them for a secondary inspection at the Highgate Springs checkpoint in Vermont.
Atallah, who is originally from Lebanon, said he was told to park his Range Rover and hand over his keys. When he asked the officer why, the officer placed his hand on his gun and told him to exit his vehicle, Atallah said. He said he was then handcuffed and led into a cell, where his belongings were confiscated. He said his wife was put into a cell across from his.
Seeing my wifes mascara running because she was crying, it was heartbreaking, Atallah said. It wasnt humane.
Read more: https://www.aol.com/us-citizen-says-wife-detained-003840539.html
This happened to my wife.
This happened to me at least four times coming back from Nogales into Arizona because I refused to answer "where do you live" being an American citizen. I told them "I am an American and could live in a box under the 22nd Street bridge in Tucson and there is nothing you can do to stop me from re-entering my country." They screamed at me "why do Americans always cause the problems." I said "Because we know our rights and you have no power over use unless I'm bringing contraband into the country."
This happened to me coming back from a weekend in Niagara Falls. We didn't get handcuffed but we got pulled into secondary for almost three hours.
Why? Because of what happened to my wife in SEATAC in 2020.
Why does it happen? Because CBP is unaccountable, has 100% power, and CAN do this at will at whim for any reason and no reason and there is NOTHING under the law anyone can do about it!
Your rights are suspended at the border crossing. You have no due process. You have no recourse. And you have no nothing.
I've been screaming this for years on deaf ears.

IronLionZion
(48,552 posts)Interesting to know what they think are problems.
IronLionZion
(48,552 posts)The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5th amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
6th amendment is denied to anyone who looks too brown to be American
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Does anyone care about the 8th amendment?
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
9th
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
electric_blue68
(20,971 posts)GreenWave
(11,084 posts)All the while knowing those foolishly arguing were not out there harassing others.
AZLD4Candidate
(6,528 posts)were waiting for me. Apparently a CBP agent followed me to my car, got my make and model, gave a description of what I looked like.
When I pulled it, I was instantly pulled into secondary for three hours with no explanation.
After that time, each time I went through any border patrol check point (I had to go through one leaving the Tohono o'Odham nation at Three Points to visit family in Tucson, I got pulled into secondary for at least a half hour. They all knew my car, my name, and where I was going and coming from.
CBP and Border Patrol are worthless.
sop
(13,796 posts)erronis
(19,139 posts)walkingman
(9,106 posts)AZLD4Candidate
(6,528 posts)gab13by13
(27,785 posts)Now this was 25 years ago when I worked a lot in Canada. When I arrived at the check point, it was the Canadian check point. They ask why I was going to Canada and I tell them to work. Several times I and other members of our crew were detained. We had the proper work papers.
There first question was always, why can't Canadians do this work and I tell them that we installed machines in Canada and we have a contract to maintain them. We are specialized, we have special tools but we work with Canadians to get the machines up and running and the faster we do that the more money the Canadian company makes.
A few of our guys tell the border agent they are going to Canada for a vacation to avoid being interrogated. These guys were nuts, especially if they ever got hurt or got caught.
Coming back from Canada we go through the US check point and for the most part they were always worse than the Canadians.
mwooldri
(10,615 posts)My first (and previous) trucking job was hauling glass. Big sheets of it.
Canada - never had a problem. In fact when a broker was a bit slow and I got to the border too early, the Canadian folks at Windsor were quite accommodating and used my vehicle as practice in their X-ray machine. We both know we were killing time waiting for the broker.
USA .. again generally no problems but there was this one guy. Remember his name. Officer Selix ... Detroit side. I came across with all the paperwork needed for crossing and he basically berated me for having all my paperwork. Said the officers who wanted all the paperwork were, quote, "fucking idiots". Well, apparently US Border folks actually have a number of "fucking idiots" because I went through another border post (Maine) and got berated for NOT having my paperwork. I couldn't remember his name but he didn't say that Officer Selix was a "fucking idiot". Thankfully our company Facebook group had the lowdown of what's wanted at what border post - at least for the main crossings. At 1000 Islands I was good to cross back with just my permanent resident care (later passport card) if I was empty and my bosses had paid the crossing fee.... Sometimes they didn't and the officers still let me cross without charging the fee but mentioning I should bring it up to my bosses to sort it out. Another incident at 1000 Islands was a broker issue (it usually is) - miscommunication as to whether it was filed or not. Tried to cross. It was not filed. It was a weekend. This broker was some weird operation I had never heard of and were closed on the weekends. Got their VP contacted somehow and got that part fixed. But I also broke the system.... Apparently if you try to cross with something a certain number is needed, if you are denied entry for the goods ... That number can't be re-used. Our company system can't issue new numbers, so it was a one shot deal.... Somehow I fudged it and we got it to work. Somehow. I ended up spending a whole weekend at a service area on the 401... At least Canada were OK about letting me re-enter to get the broker stuff fixed. Otherwise it would have been a weird place to be.
mjvpi
(1,622 posts)..government, primarily so that I can attend my nieces wedding. This is due to a drug felony in 1977. Im not sure that I want to even try to go and come back. If they look at my political ramblings, mostly about Bush II and Trump, Im screwed. I guess its a good thing that we didnt have the internet during Reagan and Bush. I also enjoy White Privilege. Blond hair (hmmm grey) , blue eyes and an easily pronounced name. I will probably be fine.
erronis
(19,139 posts)erodriguez
(861 posts)neeksgeek
(1,230 posts)In my senior year of college, before 9/11, I knew an international grad student from Montreal. She was a Canadian citizen, but was originally from Lebanon. One of those interesting people you meet in international student programs, she spoke French, Arabic, Spanish and English. In spite of being Greek Orthodox, her Arabic surname caused every border crossing to be a long interview. Its nothing new but it seems that now, they act with great cruelty.
forgotmylogin
(7,816 posts)Harker
(16,095 posts)Or try to.
NNadir
(35,629 posts)I think the customs agents were bored and wanted to have some fun.
We were working for the pharmaceutical industry, and they apparently wanted us to say the word "drugs," which finally we did, and they let us go.
They were assholes, but I am aware that it doesn't pay to say anything to customs agents that will set them off.
FakeNoose
(37,192 posts)Passed right through without a pause. Well once I think the Canadian guards opened the trunk of our car, but that was all. Seriously it was no big deal. My how times have changed!
Blackjackdavey
(206 posts)Literally, just walked in the door from a little shopping in Canada. Enjoyed a pleasant chat with the officer going each direction which included chatting about the vinyl I had just purchased and then I asked a few questions about if there were any changes about we can bring back across and the Border Patrol guy said no, but if I become unsure call ahead. Seriously. Just 30 minutes ago. Make of that what you will.