Oregon comedian plans to file claim against US government

SPOKANE — A comedian from Portland who was detained by Border Patrol agents at the Greyhound bus station in Spokane last year is planning to file a claim against the federal government.

Mohanad Elshieky’s legal team is planning to file a claim against U.S. Customs and Border Protection after an administrative complaint seeking $250,000 in damages was recently denied.

KREM-TV of Spokane reported that a lawyer for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project plans to file the claim in the next week or so.

Elshieky contends he was detained by Border Patrol officers for 20 minutes while on a bus in Spokane preparing to return to Portland. He contends he was detained even after producing valid documents demonstrating he was lawfully present in the United States.

The complaint also contended that officers racially profiled Elshieky.

Border Patrol agents ordered him to get off the bus on Jan. 27, 2019, as he was preparing to travel back to Portland after a performance in Pullman, Washington.

Elshieky said he was interrogated by agents who contended his papers were fake and that he was in the country illegally. He was eventually allowed to leave on the bus.