Dearborn resident Wissam Charafeddine knows the names of a few Customs Border Protection (CBP) officers at the U.S. Canada border because he’s been handcuffed and detained there so much.  “I know the officers and their names,” he said. During one trip he even directed a new CBP officer on how to take his fingerprints properly because he was so accustomed to the procedure.  

Ali Nasser of Dearborn stands with his wife and children at their home. Nasser was handcuffed and detained while trying to cross the U.S. Canada border after taking a family trip this month.

Since 2008 Charafeddine has drove to Canada from metro-Detroit at least more than five times, and during every visit he was handcuffed and detained for three to eight hours while trying to get back into the United States.    

Charafeddine, a business owner has no criminal history, and is a liaison for a public school district. Because his experiences at the U.S. Canada border are on record airport security officials take extra precautions when he travels by plane.

Charafeddine is given the same excuse every time he asks why he’s stopped at the U.S. Canada border. Officials tell him it’s part of standard procedures.

While in CBP custody items inside Charafeddine’s car are investigated; he’s forced to undergo a body search; his relatives are placed in a room with security officials and he’s asked a series of questions.

Officials have asked whether he’s a Sunni or Shiite Muslim; what Mosque he prays at; who the Imam is there, whether he’s contributed to political groups and who he’s affiliated with in Dearborn. “Basically it’s the story of my life, he said.  “Even the officer was rolling his eyes because of the questions he had to ask me.”

According to Charafeddine he’s asked up to 100 questions, and says he feels like he’s being interrogated, as officers document his body language.

Charafeddine is a plaintiff on a federal lawsuit the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed earlier this month against U.S. CBP, and the FBI over the repeated detention of Muslims and their religious beliefs and practices by federal agents at and inside the U.S. Canada border.

CAIR is filing the lawsuit on behalf of American citizens who reported that CBP and FBI agents detained and handcuffed them without evidence of wrongdoing and questioned them about their religious beliefs and worship habits. The suit claims that the four plaintiffs first amendment rights were violated.

 Despite the measures taken over the past year to raise awareness on alleged profiling of minorities at the U.S. Canada border issues continue emerging. 

 Ali Nasser, another Dearborn resident who took a family trip to Canada with his wife and two young children this month was also arrested and detained. He felt compelled to share his story, and do something.  Nasser was detained and handcuffed allegedly because officers say they were looking for someone else with the same name as him.

 He stayed in custody for three and a half hours while his wife and two children waited in another room.  Nasser was asked whether he financially contributed to the political groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

 Because of a job Nasser traveled for more than 15 years around the world to other countries and has never had any problems. His last visit to Canada was six years ago.

“I hear more horror stories about crossing the border than I do about airports. I try to avoid going to Canada,” Nasser said.

　Nasser and his wife, both American citizens had their passports, driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Their children had proper identification too.

 Nasser has been living in the United States for more than 30 years. He was questioned about everything from where his other children go to school to why he moved to Michigan. His wife was carrying her daughter’s homework in her purse. Officials made copies of the homework because it included Arabic writing on it. The child is currently enrolled in an Arabic class.  Officials even went as far as removing the chip from their camera and looking through the families photos from the trip where they visited Niagara Falls.  His wife says she wouldn’t visit Canada for another family trip.

 Charafeddine says he’ll never return to Canada again either. He’s missed a funeral and weddings, but says people are understanding because they know what he’s been through.

 Charafeddine has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, written to elected officials and contacted civil rights agencies. “I’m not stopping,” he said.