British Law Student Deported After 23-Hour US Detention

A 20-year-old British law student, Laith Alani, was detained for 23 hours and deported from the United States after arriving at Orlando International Airport on July 3. Despite holding a valid 10-year B1/B2 tourist visa, Alani alleges he was racially profiled and subjected to grueling interrogations and device searches. He claims officials ignored his autism and heart disorder and forced him to sign a document withdrawing his application for admission.

United States Customs and Border Protection stated that Alani was inadmissible because he could not overcome the presumption that he was an intending immigrant. The agency maintained that Alani voluntarily withdrew his application for admission and denied that its personnel engage in racial profiling.

The incident drew condemnation from the Muslim Council of Britain and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, both of which expressed concern over the treatment of Muslim and Arab travelers. British MP Anneliese Dodds raised the case with the UK Foreign Office, which provided Alani with consular assistance during the ordeal.