Bachir Atallah and his wife, Jessica Fakhri, claim they were held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection without any explanation. INDEPENDENT
A New Hampshire real estate lawyer and his wife claim they were detained without explanation while returning from a trip to Canada. Bachir Atallah, a U.S. citizen and the founder of Bachir Atallah Law, and his wife, Jessica Fakhri, were stopped at a U.S. border crossing in Vermont on Sunday.
Atallah described the experience as disturbing, saying they were held in separate cells without shoes or jackets in freezing conditions. "They held us in two separate cells, and neither of us had shoes or a jacket. It was freezing," Atallah said in an interview.
The couple had just returned from a family vacation when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials stopped them. Atallah, who has been a U.S. citizen for ten years, was allegedly treated harshly. He recalled being removed from his car by immigration officers, who allegedly approached him with a gun. "He asked me, 'Exit the vehicle right now,' and he reached for his gun," Atallah said. "I said, 'OK, I'm exiting the vehicle; keep your gun at your waist.’"
Atallah was handcuffed and his arm twisted as officers escorted him inside, while his wife looked on anxiously. The experience caused Atallah significant distress, leading to a spike in his blood pressure. He said it soared to 153/112, prompting the officers to call for medical help. However, Atallah declined treatment, fearing it would delay their release. He later sought medical care once they returned home.
When Atallah asked why they were detained, CBP officials reportedly told him, "We don't know; it's the government." In addition to the detention, officers requested access to Atallah's phone, which he refused due to attorney-client privilege. Under pressure, Atallah eventually allowed them to search his emails. He was forced to sign a statement granting consent for the search.
CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham defended the actions of the officers. "The traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection — a routine, lawful process that occurs daily," Beckham said. He added that the officers ensured attorney-client privilege was respected during the search.
Despite this, Atallah felt that the experience was unjust. "It’s one thing to protect the country from illegal aliens, but to target a law-abiding citizen who works as a lawyer?" he asked. His sister, Celine Atallah, an immigration lawyer, also expressed concerns. "It’s not about immigrants; it’s about all of us Americans," she said.
After five hours of detention, Atallah and Fakhri were finally released. However, they are now considering legal action. Atallah had once been hopeful about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, but now feels disappointed by his treatment.
The attorney, who is scheduled to travel to Lebanon for work and family reasons, expressed fear over what might happen when he returns. "I’m scared it’s going to happen again tonight," Atallah said.
