Muhammad Ali Jr. Speaks on Detainment: 'I'm Not American?'
The son of boxing champion Muhammad Ali spoke out about his and his mother's "uncomfortable" detainment at a Florida airport in February.
Muhammad Ali Jr. (right) with his famous father (Getty)
On their return trip from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, were stopped by immigration officers in Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
One officer "asked me 'What is your religion?' And I was like why would you ever ask me what my religion is, does it matter," Ali said on MSNBC.
Ali was detained for nearly two hours while officers said they "were checking on something."
"I was like, 'Okay, but I been waiting an hour and 45 minutes for you
to check something,'" Ali said. "So I'm like, 'I got other things to do
like where's my mother at?' I was worried about her, I didn't know what
was going on. I didn't know."
Spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Daniel Hetlage told USA Today that the two were not pulled aside for being Muslim, but did not provide a reason why they were.
"We treat all travelers with respect and sensitivity," he said.
"Integrity is our cornerstone. We are guided by the highest ethical and
moral principles."
"We have no interest in questioning anyone for two hours about their religion," he added.
"I felt very uncomfortable and Muhammad Ali, everybody knows him as a person that stands up for what you believe in. I been a Muslim all my whole life and I never encountered such a thing," said Camacho-Ali.
"We must carry on that legend because if we let people get away with it now then it will be no end to the trauma."
When asked what he would ask President Donald Trump if given the
chance, Ali said "I'm not American? I don't get it, I really don't."
On their return trip from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, were stopped by immigration officers in Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Ali was detained for nearly two hours while officers said they "were checking on something."
Spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Daniel Hetlage told USA Today that the two were not pulled aside for being Muslim, but did not provide a reason why they were.
"We have no interest in questioning anyone for two hours about their religion," he added.
"I felt very uncomfortable and Muhammad Ali, everybody knows him as a person that stands up for what you believe in. I been a Muslim all my whole life and I never encountered such a thing," said Camacho-Ali.
"We must carry on that legend because if we let people get away with it now then it will be no end to the trauma."
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