Civil Rights Group Announces New Lawsuit Against FBI for Using Illegal, Racist Watchlist Against Palestinian-Americans
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a precautionary travel advisory to Palestinian-American Muslim travelers in light of some recent reports of community members being detained or subjected to invasive questioning by federal agents at US borders.
“We encourage community members, especially Palestinian-American Muslims advocating for Palestinian human rights, to review this advisory to ensure they can properly respond to any discriminatory harassment while traveling through airports,” said CAIR National Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “It is essential to stay informed and know your rights – and report when those rights have been violated.”
The civil rights and advocacy group advises travelers to be prepared and informed of their rights before traveling to empower them with the knowledge necessary to navigate challenging situations confidently and safely.
Know Your Rights While Traveling:
- TSA and CBP cannot target you for additional screening or questions based on religious, racial, or ethnic profiling.
- CBP can physically take possession of your electronic items, but they cannot force you to unlock them. There are limits on how much data CBP can examine. Contact CAIR for more information.
- US citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to answer questions. However, invoking your rights may result in delays.
- Green card holders cannot be refused entry unless their travel was not brief and innocent per USC 1101(a)(14). However, invoking your rights may result in delays.
- Non-citizen visa holders can be denied entry into the country for refusing to cooperate. Speak to an attorney prior to exiting the country.
- Contact CAIR to report discrimination or harassment while traveling.
As an airline passenger, you are entitled to courteous and respectful treatment by airline and security personnel. You have the right to complain about the treatment that you believe is discriminatory. If you believe you have been treated in a discriminatory manner, immediately:
- Ask for the names and ID numbers of all persons involved in the incident. Be sure to write this information down.
- Ask to speak to a supervisor
- Ask if you have been singled out because of your name, appearance, dress, race, ethnicity, faith or national origin.
- Ask witnesses to give their names and contact information
- Write down a statement of facts immediately after the incident. Be sure to include the flight number, the flight date, and the name of the airline
- Contact CAIR to file a complaint
- An airline pilot may refuse to fly a passenger if they reasonably believe, based on observation, that the passenger is a threat to flight safety. A pilot may not, however, question you or refuse to allow you on a flight because of biased stereotypes, including any based on your religion, national origin, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.
CBP Agents can:
- Ask about:
- Your citizenship
- The nature or purpose of your trip
- Anything you are bringing back to the United States that you did not have with you when you left
- Examine your baggage and everything in it
- Physically take possession of your electronic items, but they cannot force you to unlock them. There are limits on how much data CBP can examine. Contact CAIR for more information.
CBP Agents cannot:
- Target you for additional screening or questions based on religious, racial or ethnic profiling
- Ask you general questions without reliable information that leads them to believe you are breaking a law. For example, they cannot question you about your personal life, where you spend time, work, or worship.
TSA Screeners cannot:
- Target you for additional screening or questions based on religious, racial or ethnic profiling.
- Ask you general questions without reliable information that leads them to believe you are breaking a law. For example, they cannot question you about your personal life, where you spend time, work, or worship.
- Handcuff you or strip search you
How Your Immigration Status Can Impact You When You Invoke Your Rights at the Border:
- US citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to answer questions. However, invoking your rights may result in delays.
- Green card holders cannot be refused entry unless their travel was not “brief and innocent” per USC 1101(a)(14). However, invoking your rights may result in delays.
- Non-citizen visa holders can be denied entry into the country for refusing to cooperate. Speak to an attorney prior to exiting the country.
Download, Print, Save CAIR’s ‘Know Your Rights While Traveling’ Guide
Additional Guidance for Travelers:
- Be Prepared: Travel with a fully charged phone and have CAIR/your attorney’s contact information readily available. Carry a “Know Your Rights” card to present to agents, which asserts your rights without you needing to speak.
- Remain Calm and Respectful: Interactions with federal agents can be stressful, but it’s important to remain calm and respectful. Do not physically resist, even if you believe your rights are being violated.
- Report Incidents: If you experience any form of detention, invasive questioning, or other troubling encounters, or you believe your rights were violated, report the incident to CAIR as soon as possible. Your report can help protect others and provide a basis for legal action.
SEE: CAIR Incident Report Form
Earlier this week, CAIR and CAIR’s Greater Los Angeles chapter announced the filing of a lawsuit against the federal government for placing one Palestinian American on the No-Fly List and seizing the electronic device of another, while interrogating him about his lawful organizing against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Since Oct. 7, CAIR has received reports from Americans across the country who have been questioned and harassed by federal law enforcement officials for their activism in support of Palestine and against the United States’ complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
This lawsuit is among the first to challenge the FBI’s apparent decision to aim its vast apparatus at innocent people who speak up for Palestine and criticize Israel’s violence in Gaza. CAIR is challenging the mistreatment of these Palestinian American activists on constitutional grounds.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com