Ali name sets off alarm bell

MUHAMMAD Ali’s son, who bears the boxing great’s name, was detained by immigration officials at a Florida airport and questioned about his ancestry and religion, a family friend said yesterday.

Returning from Jamaica, Muhammad Ali Jr and his mother, Khalilah Camacho Ali, were separated from each other on February 7 at the immigration checkpoint, Chris Mancini, a family friend and lawyer, said. Camacho Ali was released soon after showing a photo of herself with her exhusband, the heavyweight boxing champ, Mancini said.

But Ali Jr, 44, who confirmed his Muslim faith, was detained about two hours, despite telling officials that he’s Ali’s son and a native-born US citizen. Mancini said: “It’s quite clear that what triggered his detention was his Arabic name and his religion.”