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Muhammad Ali's son detained at airport: 'Are you Muslim?'

Posted at 9:22 AM, Feb 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-25 09:22:39-05

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A lawyer says the son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained by immigration officials at a Florida airport.

Chris Mancini told the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky that Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, and his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the second wife of Muhammad Ali, arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Feb. 7 after returning from Jamaica.

Mancini said officials questioned Ali Jr. for nearly two hours, repeatedly asking him, "Where did you get your name from?" and "Are you Muslim?"

Mancini said officials continued questioning Ali Jr. after acknowledging that he was Muslim. Ali Jr. was born in Philadelphia and holds a U.S. passport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said they "cannot discuss individual travelers; however, all international travelers arriving in the U.S. are subject to CBP inspection."