US citizen and his wife detained without explanation after returning from Canada

[Anonymous]

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.”

While detained, Atallah said he gave CBP agents the passcode to his phone after they asked for it. Despite his pleadings, agents never told him why he and his wife were being detained, he said. He said he was never read his rights.

“I feared for my life,” Atallah said.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/us/us-citizen-detained-canada/index.html

Well that was fast. US citizens detained at the border and phone searched. No reason given just thrown in a cell.

[Anonymous]

Did CBP comply with the law and act within its authority?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did CBP comply with the law and act within its authority?

If these facts are correct...then no.

[Anonymous]

From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

[Anonymous]

We have canceled all international travel plans right now. It just doesn't seem to be safe to deal with border patrol or reentry right now. Yes, we are American citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

DP. I've seen this previously when traveling. It also happens hundreds of times a day by police. Police can do all of these things if they are legally detaining someone. Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

DP. I've seen this previously when traveling. It also happens hundreds of times a day by police. Police can do all of these things if they are legally detaining someone. Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue.

You’ve hung around an airport or border crossing for hours watching someone being detained in a cell and having to hand over their cell phone to be searched?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

That isn't what happened here. Please stop with the denialism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have canceled all international travel plans right now. It just doesn't seem to be safe to deal with border patrol or reentry right now. Yes, we are American citizens.

+1

And clearly international travelers are not coming to the US. Trump is simply deleting a sizable chunk of the US economy with this.

[Anonymous]

Know your rights people. You DO NOT have to give them passwords. They can take your stuff, but if you have it all encrypted with excellent passwords etc they may not ever be able to get in. My laptop and phone are Fort Knox. And not because I have anything to hide but because cyber security is my spouse's field.

Turn off face unlock and other bio, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

Were you also handcuffed, placed in a cell, and demanded to unlock your cellphone while the agents rummaged through your phone data. If not, STFU you fascist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

DP. I've seen this previously when traveling. It also happens hundreds of times a day by police. Police can do all of these things if they are legally detaining someone. Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue.

Stop lying. You have to have probable cause. And no you do not have to grant them access to your phone data without a warrant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

It was about an hour, they did ask for phone and passwords. Wasn’t handcuffed, but I didn’t act like an ass. I guarantee this guy did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

DP. I've seen this previously when traveling. It also happens hundreds of times a day by police. Police can do all of these things if they are legally detaining someone. Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue.

Stop lying. You have to have probable cause. And no you do not have to grant them access to your phone data without a warrant.

No probable cause needed for secondary stop. You don’t have to give them passwords, but they can take your devices.

I know you won’t believe me, so here’s a Laywers page confirming it.

https://hselaw.com/news-and-information/legalcurrents/preparing-for-electronic-device-searches-at-united-states-borders/#:~:text=Know%20your%20rights.,to%20attempt%20to%20unlock%20it.