U.S. Customs and Border Protection repudiated claims that Iranian-Americans were being held at the border following the drone strike on Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
On Sunday, the Council for American Islamic Relations issued a warning that as many as 60 Iranian-Americans were being detained by Border Patrol in Washington state after attempting to cross the border at Peace Arch Border near Vancouver. The council’s report claimed that most of those detained were American citizens who were being wrongly detained as part of the fallout from rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
Several Democratic members of Congress shared the report and issued warnings to their constituents about what to do if they are detained by Border Patrol. Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal tweeted, “Deeply disturbed by reports that Iranian Americans, including U.S. citizens, are being detained at the Canadian border with WA State. My office has been working on this all morning. Please contact us with information on directly affected people.”
California Rep. Barbara Lee echoed Jayapal’s concern, tweeting, “People of Iranian descent — including American citizens & green card holders — are reportedly being detained by CBP officials. We can’t let this stand. If you or someone you know has been targeted or detained by CBP officials, please contact my district office.”
Deeply disturbed by reports that Iranian Americans, including U.S. citizens, are being detained at the Canadian border with WA State.
My office has been working on this all morning. Please contact us with information on directly affected people at [email protected].
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 5, 2020
People of Iranian descent — including American citizens & green card holders — are reportedly being detained by CBP officials. We can’t let this stand.
If you or someone you know has been targeted or detained by CBP officials, please contact my district office at 510-763-0370.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 5, 2020
Mike Friel, a spokesman for Border Patrol, responded to the rumors Sunday evening, stating, “Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false. Reports that DHS/CBP has issued a related directive are also false.”
Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false. Reports that DHS/CBP has issued a related directive are also false.
— CBP (@CBP) January 5, 2020
Hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have escalated steadily for the past few months following several attacks by Iranian-backed militant groups on U.S. assets, including an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the killing of an American contractor. The Ayatollah has promised revenge for Soleimani’s death.
