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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS Border Protection denies reports that Iranian-Americans were detained at Washington-Canada border
The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) says they assisted more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans who were stopped at the Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine, Washington.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection refutes claims that anyone was unfairly detained. In a statement to KING 5 on Sunday, CBP spokesperson Michael Friel said, "Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false. Reports that DHS/CBP has issued a related directive are also false."
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee tweeted on Sunday that the Department of Homeland Security "has informed my office they did not issue an order to detain or refuse entry to Iranian Americans. However, we are continuing to seek answers from federal officials and talk to those caught at the border."
The reports come amid growing tensions between Iran and the U.S.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-border-protection-denies-reports-that-iranian-americans-were-detained-at-washington-canada-border/ar-BBYDLdP
FuzzyRabbit
(1,967 posts)Iranian-Americans report being detained and questioned for hours. Border patrol says it didn't happen. Why do I not believe the border patrol.
tanyev
(42,568 posts)They werent detained, it just took longer than usual to get them processed. Yeah....thats the ticket.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)U.S. Stops Dozens of Iranian-Americans Returning From Canada
More than 60 people were held for additional questioning in Washington State, according to advocacy groups and accounts from travelers.
By Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Mike Baker and Mariel Padilla
Jan. 5, 2020
WASHINGTON Dozens of Iranians and Iranian-Americans were held for hours at Washington States border with Canada over the weekend as the Department of Homeland Security ramped up security at border ports after Iran threatened to retaliate against the United States for the strike that killed its top military leader.
More than 60 of the travelers, many returning from work trips or vacations, were trying to come home to the United States on Saturday when agents at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Wash., held them for additional questioning about their political views and allegiances, according to advocacy groups and accounts from travelers.
Most of the travelers were released after the extra scrutiny, according to administration officials, although advocates said some were denied entry into the United States.
Masih Fouladi, an executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said some were held in a waiting room and questioned for up to 10 hours. Later on Saturday night, when others who had just attended a concert in Canada by an Iranian pop star were trying to cross back into the United States, they were denied entry and told to come back later, Mr. Fouladi said.
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bluestarone
(16,976 posts)No end in site!