Comedian Detained In Spokane Files Border Patrol Complaint

SPOKANE, WA — A Portland comedian who was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Spokane in January has filed an administrative complaint against the agency. Mohanad Elshieky was pulled off a Greyhound bus at the Spokane Intermodal Center, even though he had proof that he's legally allowed to be in the U.S.

According to Elshieky's complaint, he boarded the bus at around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, and then noticed two Border Patrol agents checking tickets and IDs. One of the agent inspected Elshieky's Oregon drivers license, and then asked if Elshieky is a U.S. citizen.

"Mr. Elshieky responded that he was not a citizen, and at this point, the officer's demeanor shifted. He placed one hand on the seat in front of Mr. Elshieky, and another on the seat beside him, blocking Mr. Elshieky's exit and restraining his movement from the seat," the complaint says.

The agent asked for more forms of ID, the complaint says, but as Elshieky was pulling out an employment authorization document (EAD), the agent ordered Elshieky off the bus. Elshieky came to the U.S. in 2014 on a visa, and was granted asylum in 2018. After Elshieky showed the agents his EAD, they accused him of lying.

"[T]hey disparagingly dismissed his explanations, claiming that 'we've heard this all before' and that 'illegals say that all the time,'" the complaint says.

He was detained for about 20 minutes, according to the complaint, when the agents said they would let Elshieky go "this time."

The ordeal sparked worldwide outrage when Elshieky tweeted about the ordeal.

"I am Portland comedian and I’m suing CPB because if I’m expected to follow the laws, so should they, and hopefully this leads to more people speaking up," he wrote on Twitter Thursday after the complaint was filed.