U.S. Citizen Detained at Border Sparks Outrage and Legal Action

VERMONT — A New Hampshire real estate attorney claims he was unlawfully detained while reentering the United States from Canada on Sunday. Bachir Atallah, who has been a U.S. citizen for a decade, and his wife, Jessica Fakhri, returned from a family trip when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials stopped them at the border.

“I literally drove my car to Canada for the weekend, and on the way back, I was treated like a criminal,” Atallah told NBC10 Boston. His experience raises questions about the treatment of U.S. citizens at borders amidst stricter enforcement measures.

Atallah described a tense encounter, stating, “He asked me, ‘Exit the vehicle right now,’ and he reached for his gun.” He recounted responding, “OK, I’m exiting the vehicle, keep your gun at your waist.” The situation escalated as CBP agents reportedly handcuffed him and twisted his arm before escorting him inside the facility.

His wife, Jessica, witnessed the event from the vehicle. “It was like a shock for me,” Fakhri said. Witness accounts depict a troubling scene as Atallah questioned why he was being detained. He noted that officials offered no clear reasoning for the hold, stating, “They say, ‘We don’t know, it’s the government.'” Atallah’s confusion was compounded by a feeling of physical distress, prompting him to ask for medical assistance.

An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) report confirmed that Atallah was experiencing high blood pressure but he declined further medical care after hearing about the plan to escort him to a hospital under guard.

Atallah faced additional pressure when CBP agents requested access to his emails. Citing attorney-client privilege, he initially refused, stating, “I had to, under duress, give him permission to look through my email.” He noted that he was coerced into writing a statement granting consent for the search.

After several hours, the CBP contacted Atallah’s sister, Celine, who is an immigration attorney. She expressed concern over the implications of this incident, stating, “It’s not about the immigrants. It’s coming to us Americans, and it’s going to go after all of us.” Atallah and his wife were released after nearly five hours of detention.

Now, they are pursuing legal action against CBP for the incident. Reflecting on the confrontation, Atallah expressed disappointment with current immigration policies. “I really thought things would change after this administration… Things actually changed to the worse,” he said.

Atallah now plans to travel to Lebanon shortly and is apprehensive about what will happen upon his return to the United States. Meanwhile, CBP has denied the allegations against them, with Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham asserting, “The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized.” Beckham explained that Atallah was referred to secondary inspection, a routine procedure that occurs daily.

CBP emphasized that officers acted within established protocols and insured that attorney-client privilege was respected during the electronic media search. Assistance was reportedly provided after Atallah granted written consent for a limited search of his electronic device.