Son of Muhammad Ali tells lawmakers about detention

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Democrats asked Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali to speak at a forum to criticize President Trump's immigration policies
Ali was detained at an airport in February and questioned about his religion
Ali said he was detained for more than 90 minutes upon returning from Jamaica

Published: 15:49 EDT, 9 March 2017 | Updated: 12:30 EDT, 11 March 2017

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Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, spoke out against racial profiling after his experience with being detained at an airport in February

Muhammad Ali's son went to Washington, D.C. to plead for an end to racial profiling after he was detained and questioned at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month.

Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, told members of Congress Thursday he believes his recent detention for extended questioning at a Florida airport is an example of why the government needs to end racial profiling.

He asked: 'If it isn't a Muslim ban, why did they ask about my religion?'

Democratic lawmakers asked Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, to speak and answer questions at a forum highly critical of President Donald Trump's immigration policies. No Republicans attended.

Ali said he was detained for more than 90 minutes upon returning to the U.S. last month from Jamaica. The Florida resident and US citizen said agents asked him who gave him his name and his religion.

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Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali spoke at a forum on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday with his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali

He said: 'No person, let alone a United States citizen should be subjected to unlawful, discriminatory and humiliating questioning by law enforcement, according to AOL.

Ali said he felt like his 'human rights' were violated.

'I felt just like I felt at my father's funeral. I didn't know what to think. I was just dumbfounded,' Ali said.

Ali and his mother both challenged lawmakers to 'step into the ring' and support legislation that has over the years struggled to make it out of committee.

Supporters expanded the legislation's scope this year to explicitly ban religious profiling by law enforcement agencies, a move they said was necessary to counter what they consider anti-Muslim sentiment in policies enacted by the Trump administration.

Muhammad Ali Jr. (right) said he felt the way he felt when his father died (center, red bowtie) when he was detained at an airport (Laila Ali, second from left, Joe Frazier, right of Muhammad Ali Sr.)

Khalilah Camacho-Ali said it was not right for people to associate Muslims with terrorists

The legislation would provide grants to law enforcement agencies that adopt best practices and training to prevent profiling.

A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection has said Ali Jr. was held for questioning, but not because of his name or religion.

Hugh Handeyside from the ACLU added that the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, was also broken when Ali was detained.

The Trump administration recently issued travel restrictions that it says are aimed at keeping would-be terrorist out of the country while the government reviews vetting systems for refugees and visa applicants from six countries, all which happen to be Muslim-majority.

Khalilah Camacho-Ali also spoke, saying: 'I didn't call them Christians when they put us into slavery. These terrorists are simply criminals. Please don't call them Muslims.'