The Trump Administration Has Some Explaining To Do Re: The Muhammad Ali, Jr. Incident

This incident involving Muhammad Ali, Jr. and his mother is really disturbing:

The son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained for hours by immigration officials at a Florida airport, a family friend told the Courier-Journal.

Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, and his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the second wife of Muhammad Ali, were arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Feb. 7 after returning from speaking at a Black History Month event in Montego Bay, Jamaica. They were pulled aside while going through customs because of their Arabic-sounding names, according to family friend and lawyer Chris Mancini.

Immigration officials let Camacho-Ali go after she showed them a photo of herself with her ex-husband, but her son did not have such a photo. Mancini said officials held and questioned Ali Jr. for nearly two hours, repeatedly asking him, "Where did you get your name from?" and "Are you Muslim?"

When Ali Jr. responded that yes, he is a Muslim, the officers kept questioning him about his religion and where he was born. Ali Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1972 and holds a U.S. passport.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection will not comment on the incident, but they (and the Trump Administration) have some explaining to do.

Why was Muhammad Ali, Jr. asked about his religious affiliation?

Why was Muhammad Ali, Jr. subject to further questioning when he indicated he is Muslim?

This incident took place four days after a federal judge put President Trump's Muslim travel ban and two days before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judge's decision. What directives, if any, did the Department of Homeland Security issue to its officials concerning the travel ban? Did the White House issue any directives of its own?

Of course, Ali, Jr. was born and raised in the United States and the ban should not have applied to him. Why was his U.S. passport insufficient documentation for U.S. Customs & Border Protection?

At this point, no one has denied the story. Of course, it is possible new information may come to light which disputes what the Ali family has asserted. 

But assuming the story is true, I suspect the Trump Administration will say they were rogue agents and try to sweep things under the rug.

For their part, the Alis have threatened to take legal action. I hope they do and force the Trump Administration to come clean on their disgraceful treatment of the Ali family and other Muslims who have been questioned only because they are Muslim.