Amir Makled, an immigration attorney from Dearborn, reported being detained and pressured to hand over his cellphone by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at Detroit Metro Airport upon his return from a family trip. According to a statement to WXYZ Detroit, Makled said that upon scanning his passport, an agent mentioned the Tactical Terrorism Response Teams (TTRT), signaling to him that he would likely be detained. Sure enough, he was taken to an interview room and questioned about his professional activities, specifically his representation of a University of Michigan protester.
Makled, who specializes in civil rights law, expressed that this encounter followed President Donald Trump's direction for the U.S. attorney general’s office to potentially discipline lawyers for violations of professional conduct rules. Makled believes his detention was an intimidation tactic targeting his profession, especially given his involvement in high-profile cases critical of the Trump administration's policies. Describing his ordeal, Makled told The Detroit News, "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."
The CBP has refuted Makled's allegations, stating the procedure was routine and lawful. According to a statement from CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham provided to ClickonDetroit, Makled was selected for secondary inspection, a process that can apply to any individual traveling, and attorney-client privilege was maintained during a restricted search of his electronic device. Makled ultimately consented to show his contact list to the agents. Despite the explanation provided by CBP, Makled views these events as emblematic of a broader contentious relationship between the Trump administration and members of the legal profession representing interests in opposition to its policies.
Makled has suggested that travelers concerned about their personal information being accessed should consider taking another phone when abroad. He emphasized the importance of privacy rights and suggested that the law regarding phone searches at border crossings needs to be challenged. Makled's law office released a statement asserting his commitment to civil rights and describing his detention as an attempt by the Trump Administration to "chill" his work. Meanwhile, various law firms have pushed back legally against Trump's executive order, which they perceive as a means to punish firms previously critical of Trump, with one firm settling for a significant concession in legal fees, according to a release by WXYZ.
