An American man says he and his wife were detained for hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers after returning from a weekend trip to Canada — and were never told why.
Bachir Atallah, a U.S. citizen originally from Lebanon, told CNN that he and his wife Jessica were driving back into the U.S. through the Highgate Springs checkpoint in Vermont on Sunday evening when they were pulled aside for a secondary inspection.
What followed, he said, was a frightening ordeal that included being handcuffed, separated, and held in cells for hours — with no explanation.
“Seeing my wife’s mascara running because she was crying — it was heartbreaking,” Atallah said. “It wasn’t humane.”
Allegations of Harsh Treatment and Lack of Transparency
Atallah said CBP officers ordered him to park his vehicle, a Range Rover, and hand over his keys. When he asked for a reason, he claimed an officer placed a hand on his firearm and ordered him out of the vehicle. He was handcuffed and placed in a holding cell; Jessica was placed in a separate cell across from him.
He also said that officers confiscated their belongings, and that he complied with requests to unlock his phone, though he was never read his rights or told the reason for their detention.
“I feared for my life,” Atallah said, adding that he began experiencing chest pain and dizziness while in custody. Emergency Medical Services were called and evaluated him, but he declined to go to the hospital after learning he’d be returned to detention afterward to “start the process over.”
Despite repeated requests, no formal explanation was given for the detention, he said.
CBP Responds: “Accusations Are False and Sensationalized”
In a statement, CBP denied wrongdoing.
“The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols.” Officials characterized the secondary inspection as a routine, lawful process that can apply to any traveler.
Family’s Legal Concerns and Ongoing Fear
Atallah said he immediately told officers to call his sister, Celine Atallah, an immigration attorney. A CBP officer left a voicemail around 9 p.m. informing her that Bachir and Jessica were being held, were “safe,” and would “be here for a little while.”
“He wanted my help, not just to hear that he’s fine,” Celine told CNN.
The couple was released around 11 p.m., several hours after the ordeal began. Atallah said they whispered in Arabic, “Thank God we’re safe,” as they got back in the car to drive home.
Lingering Questions and Fear of Retaliation
Atallah, now visiting family in Lebanon, says the experience has left him worried about returning to the U.S.
“I hope they don’t retaliate because I’m speaking out,” he said.
The incident comes amid a broader climate of heightened border enforcement and immigration-related tension. Human rights advocates have raised concerns that even U.S. citizens with foreign ties can face discriminatory treatment at ports of entry.