Attorney Represents Pro-Palestine Protester
Dearborn, MI — A prominent Michigan civil rights attorney, Amir Makled, was detained by federal agents at Detroit Metro Airport on Sunday as he returned from a family vacation, an incident that has sparked alarm among civil liberties advocates and the legal community.
Makled, who represents a pro-Palestinian student protester at the University of Michigan, believes he was targeted for his legal work challenging the Trump administration, raising urgent questions about attorney-client privilege and government overreach.
Makled was traveling home from Punta Cana with his wife and children when he was stopped at passport control. He noticed agents consulting about the availability of the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT), a development that immediately unsettled him. “At that moment, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me,” Makled recounted. He was separated from his family and escorted to an interview room, where agents questioned him for nearly 90 minutes.
During the interrogation, agents referenced Makled’s profession and high-profile cases, specifically mentioning his representation of Samantha Lewis, a University of Michigan student activist charged after protesting the war in Gaza.
Agents demanded access to his cellphone, which Makled initially refused, citing the sensitive, privileged nature of the information it contained. “I have a duty as an attorney. I have a duty to my clients and anything they tell me could be privileged,” he explained. Ultimately, he allowed agents to view only his contact list, refusing broader access.
Makled described the ordeal as a clear attempt at intimidation.
“This wasn’t something that was random,” he said. “They had a whole profile about me.” He believes the detention was meant to dissuade attorneys from representing clients whose causes conflict with current government policies. “It’s really an attempt to intimidate lawyers from standing up for people who are engaged in political speech,” Makled said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection disputed Makled’s account,
calling the accusations “blatantly false and sensationalized.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) disputed Makled’s account, calling the accusations “blatantly false and sensationalized.” In a statement, CBP said Makled was referred to secondary inspection as part of a routine, lawful process, and that “officers worked to ensure attorney-client privilege was respected during electronic media search.” CBP said Makled provided written consent for a limited search and was released promptly, denying any political motivation.
Still, the incident has sent shockwaves through the legal community and civil rights organizations, who warn of the chilling effect such actions could have on lawyers defending politically sensitive clients. Legal experts say the case raises serious concerns about the sanctity of attorney-client privilege and the rights of attorneys to represent controversial clients without fear of government reprisal.
Makled’s experience is not isolated.
Across the country, several attorneys who represent clients in politically charged cases have reported increased scrutiny at U.S. borders. Civil liberties advocates argue that such targeting threatens the foundation of the adversarial legal system and undermines the right to counsel.
Makled, undeterred, says he will continue to defend his clients vigorously. “If lawyers are intimidated into silence, then everyone’s rights are at risk,” he said.
#CivilLiberties #AttorneyRights #BorderDetention
#ProtestRights #FreeSpeech #LegalDefense
#MichiganNews #KnowYourRights #AttorneyPrivilege
Tags: civil liberties, attorney detention, border patrol, Michigan,
Detroit Metro Airport, pro-Palestinian protest, Trump administration,
attorney-client privilege, civil rights, legal intimidation
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