I was detained at a US airport and asked about Israel and Gaza for 2 hours. Why? | Ilan Pappé
I was detained at a US airport and asked about Israel and Gaza for 2 hours. Why? | Ilan Pappé
Border agents asked whether I believe Israel is committing genocide and what I think of popular protest slogans shortly after I landed in Detroit
I was held for two hours. The first round of questions was about my views on Hamas. Then the agents wished to know whether I thought Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip amount to genocide and what I think of the slogan “Palestine should be free from the river to the sea”. I said yes, I do think Israel is committing genocide. As to the slogan, I said that in my view people anywhere in the world should be free.
Then the agents interrogated me about who I know in the Arab American and Muslim American community. They asked me to provide them with telephone numbers, took my phone away for quite a long period and asked to wait until they made some phone calls before they let me go.
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The first round of questions was about my views on Hamas. Then the agents wished to know whether I thought Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip amount to genocide and what I think of the slogan “Palestine should be free from the river to the sea”.
In a situation like this, the only correct answers are "lawyer" and silence.
If you are detained at foreign border security, unfortunately, you don't have guaranteed legal rights to a lawyer. They can unilaterally ask for statements, seize property given up for search, or deny entry on any grounds.
Airports are their own legal zones, similiar to embassies, in US? What the hell?
or deny entry on any grounds.
I thought that's the only thing they can do?
There's a 100mi border zone around the coast where you have no 4th amendment rights, and CBP likes to abuse that fact.
Wasn't it also 100 mile zone around international airports too?
Welcome to freedom!
Yeah that's not how CBP works especially for non citizens. I tell Americans this all the time and nobody believes it. Until it happens to them or someone they know.
You have zero rights. You can be detained without legal representation or cause for 72 hours thanks to the Patriot Act. Even as a citizen. Your electronics seized and spied on. All your social media, email, picture, everything read. It happens daily.
It happens more often to black and brown people and non citizens. But it shouldn't happen at all.