Dearborn Meeting With Homeland Security's John Kelly Becomes Heated

DEARBORN, MI — A meeting between Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Arab-Americans and Muslims in Dearborn became heated when a local activist aggressively questioned Kelly about orders that target six Muslim-majority countries.

Dearborn-based Arab American Civil Rights League Founder Nabih Ayad asked the questions that momentarily raised the ire of Kelly. The hour-long meeting was held at the American National Museum in Dearborn.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Kelly threatened to leave the meeting after Ayad accused the Department of Homeland Security of targeting communities with populations of Arab Americans and Muslims. Ayad told the paper he also questioned Kelly about the profiling of Arabs and Muslims at ports of entry and asked that records be kept to see if there is disproportionate targeting.

"He stood up and walked away almost," Ayad told the Free Press. "He said, ‘I'm leaving unless you decide to stop your questions and have someone else ask a question’. ... He actually got out his seat."

Ayad told the newspaper he believes Arabs and Muslims are targeted by law enforcement agencies, including Kelly’s department. "We need an accounting of how many Arab-Americans and Muslims are stopped at the border," Ayad said he told Kelly. "It seem as if he didn't want to listen."

The Free Press reported that Kelly later defended his department. He told reporters: “Every single time a foreigner or an American citizen comes into this country, they generally move straight through the process. A very tiny number are set aside for additional screening that’s not based on religion or color or politics, and I reject anyone that makes that claim."

Earlier in the day, Kelly attended a meeting with Latino and Chaldean leaders at Detroit Metro Airport. He described both meetings as productive. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters invited Kelly to Michigan.

Photo courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security