A New Hampshire man’s decision to vote for Donald Trump has returned to haunt him. The citizen, Bachir Atallah, became a victim of unlawful detention by the Customs and Border Protection officers. His arrest happened in Vermont, just as he and his wife returned from a weekend road trip to Canada.
The traveler, who has been a U.S. citizen for 10 years, recalled his arrest, saying he was “treated like a criminal.” He reported that he was ordered to exit his car by an officer who reached for a gun. Outside the vehicle, he was subjected to more manhandling.
“They handcuffed me, they twisted my arm, my wrist. They walked me inside, and I was looking at my wife in the car,” Atallah said to NBC New York.
When Atallah questioned why he was detained, the authorities replied, “We don’t know, it’s the government.” The New Hampshire citizen disclosed that the incident made him feel ill, and a report from an EMS team confirmed his blood pressure was high.
Revealing more details about his detention, Atallah said that the agency forced him to give them consent to go through his emails. “He made me write a statement, signed by me, saying that I gave him permission to look through the email.” After his ordeal, the traveler reflected on why he chose to vote for Trump. He said:
“I really thought things would change after this administration when we have Mr.Trump in office, things would change for the better. Things actually changed for the worse.”
Internet users reacted to the news without remorse for his ordeal and claimed he brought it upon himself. One user wrote, “Sorry, but I am not able to feel bad for this idiot. Everyone warned that Trump would be a disaster for non-white citizens. Everyone said Trump is a racist piece of shit.”
A second person followed suit, penning, “At first I read the headline, felt bad, then I saw this summary and realized this guy voted for Trump. So, F**k him i don’t feel bad.”
Other users mocked the citizen for getting the change he wanted. One sarcastic comment read, “Bro literally got what he voted for so I don’t know what he’s so upset about lol.”
Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection denied Atallah’s claims, stating that they only followed established protocols. However, the citizen remains steadfast in his claims and is now pursuing legal action.