Muhammad Ali Jr. Delayed at Airport in Washington, D.C. [VIDEO]
The son of the late boxing icon Muhammad Ali was delayed by TSA officials at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday (March 10).
If you recall, last month, Muhammad Ali Jr., and mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the second wife of Muhammad Ali, were detained by immigration officials at at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. So clearly this is a frustrating situation for them.
According to NBC New York, Muhammad Ali Jr. was traveling from Washington, D.C. to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when he was stopped. The 44-year-old was held up for several minutes as he was asked questions and went through a pat-down search.
"I'm out here trying to take care of business and I have to be harassed," Ali Jr. said to NBC New York. "My mind is thrown off I can't even think about what I'm trying to do... it's really bad. I mean, nobody should take this type of abuse."
Ali said he was initially stopped by a ticket agent who said his ID was expired and could not give him his boarding pass. The agent informed Ali that his name was flagged and he would not be allowed to board the plane until DHS was contacted, Ali Jr. told NBC Miami. He also said that his ID is not expired. The whole ordeal lasted 25 minutes.
Ironically, Ali Jr., and his mother, were in D.C. to talk to members of Congress about their ordeal at a Florida airport and the problems with President Trump's immigration ban.
Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz who was also on the same flight believes Ali, Jr. was targeted for being Muslim and for speaking out against President Trump's problematic immigration ban.
"We have the Department of Homeland Security that appears to be targeting people based on their religion for screening and retaliating against people for speaking up about it? I mean, is this Trump's America?" she said.
TSA did release a statement acknowledging that Ali Jr. was "delayed" not detained because his jewelry set off the airport scanner. He received a targeted pat down in the area of his jewelry and was let go.
There's no word if Muhammad Ali Jr. will pursue legal action over this latest incident.