A Lawyer's Border Detention Raises Questions

A lawyer from Michigan found himself in a difficult situation recently. Amir Makled was stopped by immigration officials when he returned from a family trip to the Dominican Republic. This happened at Detroit Metro Airport. His wife and kids got through without any problems. But when it was Makled's turn, things took a different path. Agents called for backup from the "Tactical Terrorism Response Team. " This made Makled worried. He was asked to hand over his cell phone. He refused at first. After a long back-and-forth, he showed them his contacts list. He was eventually let go, but no reason was given for the detention. Makled thinks this might have something to do with a case he is handling. He represents a student involved in a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Michigan. Makled believes the Trump administration's policies might be behind this. He thinks the government is trying to scare people who support Palestine. He also thinks this is a way to intimidate lawyers who take on controversial cases. Makled was clear about his thoughts. He said the search of his phone had nothing to do with terrorism. It was just a way to scare him. The Customs and Border Protection agency was asked for a comment. They said searches of electronic devices have not increased under the Trump administration. They also said that political beliefs do not trigger inspections or removals. Makled disagrees. He thinks the search was a way to intimidate him. He also thinks it sets a bad example for the country. He believes that if the government can target a lawyer at the border, they can target anyone who speaks out. Makled received a lot of support after this happened. People from the Bar Association and the community reached out to him. They were offended by what happened. They believe in the right to privacy and the rule of law. They think the government should not be able to search people's personal belongings without a good reason.