Representatives of the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) met with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin at his office in Detroit on Wednesday to discuss immigration issues.

Various cases reported to the regional chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and other community entities involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Detention and Removal Operations and Border Patrol were relayed to the senior Democratic Senator.

Imad Hamad, ADC Regional Director, said the cases included unexplained confiscations of cell phones, passports and other documentation. They also addressed the breaking up of families as a result of minor, sometimes decades-old immigration violations and immigrants being held, and questioned the Canadian border “in a very humiliating way.”

“The Senator listened attentively to the charges that the delegation leveled while his assistant took notes,” said Osama Siblani, Publisher of The Arab American News and spokesman for the Congress of Arab American Organizations.

Attorneys Jim Allen and Sam Salamey and Dr. Yahya Basha attended the meeting along with Siblani and Hamad.

Levin and the community leaders hope to arrange a meeting with local immigration officials in the coming weeks.

The group also discussed the Obama administration’s recent decision to subject travelers to the U.S. from 14 nations to enhanced airport security screening measures.

“It is profiling that has been proven ineffective and harmful to the United States and to the cause of fighting terrorism,” Siblani said.

ADC and CAAO are currently arranging a townhall meeting with Transportation Security Administration officials to help explain the new measures to the community.

Siblani said Levin inquired about any incidents of backlash toward Arab Americans following the Christmas Day attempted bombing of a Northwest flight to Detroit.

Detroit U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena have also been placing calls to community leaders inquiring about any backlash. No major incidents have been reported as of yet.

Siblani and Hamad also met with Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad on Thursday to discuss preventative security measures at mosques, businesses and other vulnerable entities.