April 10, 2025
Detroit, Michigan — In a troubling encounter that is prompting concern among civil rights advocates and legal professionals alike, Michigan-based attorney Amir Makled was detained without explanation by federal immigration agents on Sunday, April 6, at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. The incident has raised urgent questions about privacy rights, potential political targeting, and the erosion of due process protections for American citizens.
Makled, a U.S.-born attorney and legal representative of a University of Michigan student recently charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest, was returning from a family vacation in the Dominican Republic when the unexpected confrontation occurred. While his wife and children cleared customs without incident, Makled was singled out by border agents who, according to his account, called for assistance from the “Tactical Terrorism Response Team.”
Speaking to NPR’s All Things Considered, Makled described the moment as deeply unsettling. “My heart fell into my stomach,” he recalled. “I was concerned not just for myself, but for the message this sends to lawyers and citizens who speak up or defend those who do.”
During the 90-minute detainment, agents repeatedly pressured Makled to surrender access to his personal cellphone. He refused to unlock the device but ultimately allowed a limited view of his contacts list to avoid escalation. Despite the extended interrogation, he was never formally told why he had been detained or what suspicion justified the investigation. He was eventually released without charges.
Although no official reason was provided, Makled believes the incident is linked to his recent decision to represent a student client facing legal consequences for participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. In light of the Trump administration’s increasing scrutiny of visa holders and U.S. residents who have expressed support for Palestine, Makled fears the timing and intensity of the encounter were not coincidental.
“The purpose of this wasn’t to investigate terrorism,” he told NPR. “It was to create a chilling effect. It was intimidation — plain and simple.”
Civil rights groups and legal experts warn that Makled’s experience is part of a broader trend of aggressive surveillance and overreach by federal authorities, especially at international points of entry. The incident also comes amid growing concerns about the U.S. government’s use of border checkpoints as zones of diminished constitutional protections — where phones, data, and even legal communications are at risk of unwarranted scrutiny.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not yet responded to NPR’s request for comment, nor have they offered any official statement on the justification or legality of Makled’s detainment.
As the story gains national attention, Makled’s legal team is weighing its options, and civil liberties watchdogs are preparing to challenge what they view as an unconstitutional overstep. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has previously flagged similar cases where attorneys, journalists, and activists were detained or searched at ports of entry, often without probable cause or due process.
Makled’s experience underscores the pressing need for transparency, accountability, and legal reform regarding border enforcement practices — especially those that may infringe upon attorney-client privilege, the right to privacy, and protections from politically motivated targeting.
Media Contact:
Makled Legal Group
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (313) 555-1027
Website: www.makledlegal.com
