American Traveler Held for Hours at Airport Without Explanation, Denied Lawyer Access

During a recent trip, the author was diverted to secondary inspection and detained for about four hours, during which a CBP agent denied his request for a lawyer and offered no justification for the delay. He recalls a prior May 2023 interrogation at JFK Airport that, while professional, raised unsettling questions about his family and media work. The piece highlights other cases where CBP seized phones, demanded passwords, or threatened green cards, illustrating the agency’s broad questioning powers and reliance on automated watch-list systems.

CBP spokesman Stephen Sapp explained that secondary screening is an administrative function, which the author argues provides fewer protections than criminal investigations. Seeking transparency, the author has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all records related to his encounters. The account underscores the lack of clear rights for U.S. citizens facing border scrutiny.