Here’s what U.S. citizen Bachir Atallah told us about the harrowing experience of returning to the U.S. from Canada. He and his wife faced some unforeseen difficulties on their trip. Atallah had been in Lebanon visiting family when we caught him by phone Friday. What really alarmed him was the way they were being treated at the Highgate Springs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility.
As soon as Atallah got to the port of entry, officials placed him into secondary inspection. It’s a simple, unsurprising practice that should be used on every traveler. He said the experience was traumatizing, explaining that he was handcuffed as soon as he arrived on scene. Atallah claimed that CBP officers lacked sufficient reason for denying their re-entry and disrespectfully handcuffed him and his wife throughout the ordeal.
Atallah remembered, “They came to us and said you are just going to be here for a short time. The longer he spoke, the more a panic for his, and his wife, safety, set upon him. He asked that CBP officers contact his sister, Celine Atallah. As an immigrant rights attorney, she is uniquely positioned to offer impactful support.
Even with the obvious tension, Atallah acquiesced to the CBP officer’s request to provide the passcode to his cell phone. And he knew that he had a responsibility to keep his family informed. Only later did he learn that a CBP officer had discreetly left a voicemail on Celine’s phone, acknowledging their detention at Highgate Springs.
Atallah’s emotional distress was palpable as he described witnessing his wife’s tears: “Seeing my wife’s mascara running because she was crying, it was heartbreaking,” he stated. The couple’s ordeal made clear some of the harsh realities of their treatment at the hands of CBP officials.
In response to Atallah’s claims, CBP officials defended their actions, saying that they were in line with standard procedures. They emphasized that “the traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized.” This rebuttal did nothing to ease Atallah’s concern about facing API backlash for speaking freely about their experience.
As the story developed, Atallah shared his fear of going back to the U.S. following the events of last week. In light of President Donald Trump’s recent threats regarding the potential offshore detention of U.S. citizens, Atallah’s fears intensified. Experts were quick to point out that these threats have no legal basis. They have certainly raised the level of general discomfort among the public—especially from people like Atallah.
Atallah is still optimistic that CBP will not punish him for speaking out against their actions. He continues to navigate the complexities of the immigration system while remaining vigilant about the treatment he and his wife received during their visit to Canada.
