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AZLD4Candidate

(6,528 posts)
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 11:24 AM Saturday

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 wife’s mascara running because she was crying, it was heartbreaking,” Atallah said. “It wasn’t 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.
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US citizen says he and his wife detained without explanation after returning from Canada (Original Post) AZLD4Candidate Saturday OP
"why do Americans always cause the problems." IronLionZion Saturday #1
4th amendment "unreasonable searches and seizures" are a problem for jackbooted goons IronLionZion Saturday #9
Thanks tor the read out. electric_blue68 Saturday #20
If'n I had lots of time on my hands, I would keep them busy for a while. GreenWave Saturday #2
Addendum to that story: They called the Border Patrol check up near Rio Rico after I left and the green shirted pricks AZLD4Candidate Saturday #3
They hire cruel, racist people, grant them authority and immunity, then tell them to punish anyone they don't like. sop Saturday #4
Same profile for prison guards. Much of law enforcement. erronis Saturday #15
A lot of these assholes are ex-military who think they are "somebody" - too many in law enforcement. walkingman Saturday #5
They were trained to be at war 100% of the time and now they are at war with their own people. AZLD4Candidate Saturday #6
Are people mixing up what happens at the border? gab13by13 Saturday #7
I used to cross into Canada frequently. mwooldri Saturday #19
I have spent the better part of the last year and $3500 trying to gain"rehabilitation" status with the Canadian........ mjvpi Saturday #8
You sound like a perfect aryan. Now, practice your straight-arm salute - make it snappy! erronis Saturday #16
I know why they were stopped.Check the last name. erodriguez Saturday #10
Yep. More 25 years ago ... neeksgeek Saturday #12
Welcome to racial profiling 101. n/t forgotmylogin Saturday #14
I'm still waiting for Trumpsky to follow through on his threat to indemnify all law enforcement officers. Harker Saturday #11
It happened to me in the 1990's. I was traveling with a French colleague, late at night, during a blizzard. NNadir Saturday #13
I went to Canada 2 or 3 times in the 1980s and all I had was a NY drivers' license FakeNoose Saturday #17
I did it just now Blackjackdavey Saturday #18

IronLionZion

(48,552 posts)
9. 4th amendment "unreasonable searches and seizures" are a problem for jackbooted goons
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 12:51 PM
Saturday

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.

GreenWave

(11,084 posts)
2. If'n I had lots of time on my hands, I would keep them busy for a while.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 11:29 AM
Saturday

All the while knowing those foolishly arguing were not out there harassing others.

AZLD4Candidate

(6,528 posts)
3. Addendum to that story: They called the Border Patrol check up near Rio Rico after I left and the green shirted pricks
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 11:32 AM
Saturday

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)
4. They hire cruel, racist people, grant them authority and immunity, then tell them to punish anyone they don't like.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 11:48 AM
Saturday

walkingman

(9,106 posts)
5. A lot of these assholes are ex-military who think they are "somebody" - too many in law enforcement.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 11:54 AM
Saturday

AZLD4Candidate

(6,528 posts)
6. They were trained to be at war 100% of the time and now they are at war with their own people.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 12:13 PM
Saturday

gab13by13

(27,785 posts)
7. Are people mixing up what happens at the border?
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 12:17 PM
Saturday

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)
19. I used to cross into Canada frequently.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 06:46 PM
Saturday

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)
8. I have spent the better part of the last year and $3500 trying to gain"rehabilitation" status with the Canadian........
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 12:39 PM
Saturday

………..government, primarily so that I can attend my niece’s wedding. This is due to a drug felony in 1977. I’m 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 it’s a good thing that we didn’t 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)
16. You sound like a perfect aryan. Now, practice your straight-arm salute - make it snappy!
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 02:16 PM
Saturday

neeksgeek

(1,230 posts)
12. Yep. More 25 years ago ...
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 01:19 PM
Saturday

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. It’s nothing new but it seems that now, they act with great cruelty.

Harker

(16,095 posts)
11. I'm still waiting for Trumpsky to follow through on his threat to indemnify all law enforcement officers.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 01:10 PM
Saturday

Or try to.

NNadir

(35,629 posts)
13. It happened to me in the 1990's. I was traveling with a French colleague, late at night, during a blizzard.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 01:24 PM
Saturday

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)
17. I went to Canada 2 or 3 times in the 1980s and all I had was a NY drivers' license
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 03:00 PM
Saturday

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)
18. I did it just now
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 05:18 PM
Saturday

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.

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