U.S. Immigration Agents Detain American Lawyer Over Palestinian Client Representation
DETROIT, MI — A Michigan-based attorney was detained and questioned by federal immigration agents earlier this week in what civil rights advocates are calling a disturbing escalation in government overreach and an attempt to intimidate legal defenders of pro-Palestinian voices.
Amir Makled, a U.S. citizen and practicing attorney, was returning from a family vacation in the Dominican Republic on Sunday when he was stopped by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. While his wife and children passed through customs without issue, Makled was pulled aside and told that assistance was being called from the airport’s Tactical Terrorism Response Team.
“My heart fell into my stomach at that point, I was so concerned and worried,” Makled told NPR’s Juana Summers.
For over 90 minutes, Makled was interrogated and pressured to hand over his cell phone. As an attorney, he refused, citing attorney-client privilege and the sensitive nature of his device’s contents—including a decade’s worth of confidential legal documents, communications, and case files.
Makled alleges that the agents had prior knowledge of his professional activities, particularly his representation of a Palestinian-American student charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Michigan. He believes this was not a random screening.
“The agent knew who I was, where I was coming from, and that I’m an attorney,” he said. “They had done their homework before I even landed.”
Eventually, Makled agreed to show his contacts list but continued to withhold full access to his device. He was released without charge and never given an official explanation for the detention.
A Chilling Precedent for Civil Liberties
Though CBP has not responded to NPR’s request for comment, a spokesperson for the agency previously told the Detroit Free Press that allegations of politically motivated searches are “baseless and irresponsible.” But Makled isn’t buying it.
“If there’s no probable cause, no warrant, and I’m not a threat to national security, then what was the purpose of searching my phone?” he said. “This has nothing to do with terrorism. It’s intimidation—plain and simple.”
Makled argues that this is part of a broader pattern of harassment targeting attorneys, activists, and others defending Palestinian rights, especially in the wake of intensified political crackdowns during and following the Trump administration.
In 2018 and 2019, reports emerged of journalists, immigration attorneys, and humanitarian workers being flagged and questioned at U.S. borders. The practice drew widespread criticism for its targeting of individuals based on political speech and constitutionally protected work.
Makled sees this as a continuation of that playbook.
“This is meant to send a message: ‘If you stand up for political dissenters, for immigrants, or for Palestinians, we’re watching you.’”
Legal Community Pushes Back
Despite the personal violation and professional implications, Makled says the incident has galvanized support for his work.
“The outpouring of support from lawyers across the country has been incredible. This isn’t what America is supposed to be. We have the Fourth Amendment for a reason.”
Indeed, legal experts warn that if CBP or any federal agency can target a lawyer over their clients, it could erode the very foundation of attorney-client confidentiality and chill legal advocacy for marginalized communities.
“If they can target me,” Makled said, “what’s stopping them from targeting anyone who dares to speak out?”
This case highlights growing concerns around civil liberties at the U.S. border and the erosion of constitutional protections for professionals engaged in politically sensitive work.
