Detroit Lawyer Claims Federal Agents Intimidated Him at Airport

DEARBORN, Mich. — A Dearborn lawyer claims he was detained by federal agents at Detroit Metro Airport on Sunday and pressured to surrender his phone, an incident he described as an “attack on lawyers.” Amir Makled said he was interrogated for an hour and a half after arriving home from a family trip to the Dominican Republic.

Makled alleges the federal agents targeted him due to his representation of clients accused of crimes opposing President Donald Trump‘s policies, including a pro-Palestinian demonstrator arrested last year following a protest at the University of Michigan. He views the encounter as part of a broader attempt to intimidate attorneys engaged in politically sensitive cases.

“This is an attack on lawyers,” Makled stated. “This is an attempt to dissuade lawyers from taking on these kinds of causes. We are the ones who carry clients on our back and see them through the legal process.”

This incident comes just weeks after Trump called for “accountability” for lawyers engaging in conduct that allegedly violates U.S. laws. In a memorandum, Trump directed the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to refer any attorney for disciplinary action if their conduct appeared to breach professional conduct rules.

During his detention, Makled stated that agents accessed his contact list but ultimately respected his refusal to give up his phone. “My iPhone is my entire office system,” he explained. “It has all my communications, all my contacts… It would be impossible for me to determine what would be privileged and what wouldn’t be privileged. As an attorney, I’m not giving that up under any circumstances.”

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Michigan did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.

Makled, 38, represents Samantha Lewis, one of the demonstrators charged with resisting arrest and obstructing police following the protest on the University of Michigan campus. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has brought charges against several demonstrators related to the protests.

During an interview, Makled urged Nessel, a Democrat, to reconsider the charges against the students involved. “As a Democratic leader… why do you want to do the bidding of Trump, potentially adding criminal convictions on these young adults?” he asked.