The Denver Post

Ali’s son questioned about his faith.

-

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 in what amounted to unconstitu­tional profiling, a family friend said Saturday.

Returning from a Black History Month event in Jamaica, Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho Ali, were pulled aside and separated from each other on Feb. 7 at the immigratio­n checkpoint at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Internatio­nal Airport, said Chris Mancini, a family friend and attorney.

Camacho Ali was released a short time later after showing a photo of herself with her ex-husband, the former heavyweigh­t boxing champion, Mancini said. But Ali Jr. was not carrying a photo of his world-famous father — a recipient of the Presidenti­al Medal of Freedom.

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 U.S. citizen, Mancini said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States