That’s what Bachir Atallah, a U.S. citizen, and his wife Jessica ran into last month at the Highgate Springs checkpoint in Vermont. Upon landing back from Canada, they found themselves in a several hour detention. Yet, their experience has raised provocative and critical questions. Americans are understandably concerned about the practices Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials employ during everyday inspections.
When Atallah finally got to the port of entry, CBP agents told him to pull over his Range Rover. Then, they demanded that he turn over the keys to his car. And then they went on to pressure him to give them access to his phone, including the passcode. Atallah’s first experience turned high stakes after he started having chest pain and was reporting feeling dizzy. In panic, CBP agents quickly tried to summon medical assistance. Emergency Medical Services looked him over at about 8 p.m. Sunday night.
CBP officials did not side step the fact that the couple was referred to secondary inspection, a procedure commonly used on any traveler for any reason. The agency wanted to underscore that this process is legal and occurs every day. Agents told Atallah that he would “be here for a little while” as they resumed their inspection.
During the detention, agents misleadingly told Celine, Atallah’s wife, that her husband was fine. Additionally, they verified that Jessica was safe at the Highgate Springs facility. They even directly called her phone to leave an extensive voicemail explaining the couple’s situation. While Atallah was being treated, agents from CBP began seizing control. They told him that if he did require further treatment, an officer would accompany him to the hospital and return him to the detention facility.
In response to Atallah’s allegations, CBP officials called his claims “outrageously false and sensationalized.” They stuck to their guns and promised to stick to standard protocol when performing inspections and ensuring that the safety of everyone involved comes first.
