French scientist denied entry to United States over Trump criticisms

On March 10th, a French scientist was denied entry into the United States and subsequently deported after being stopped by border officials in Texas, according to The Middle East Eye.

The scientist, who works for France’s publicly funded National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), was traveling to attend a conference near Houston when the incident occurred.

According to reports from March 19th, the researcher was detained and deported because of the content found on his phone, which contained personal messages expressing his views on the Trump administration’s science policies.

Philippe Baptiste, France’s Minister for Higher Education and Research, commented on the incident in a statement to Agence France-Presse on March 20th.

Baptiste expressed concern over the situation, emphasising that the values of freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom were essential principles that France would continue to uphold.

Baptiste assured that these values would be defended, stating, “I will defend the possibility for all French researchers to be faithful to them, in compliance with the law.”

Reports indicate that the researcher was subjected to a random check upon arrival in the United States, during which both his personal phone and laptop were searched, as reported by The Middle East Eye.

It was during this search that messages critical of US government policies were discovered, leading to his deportation.

This incident raises concerns about the increasing scrutiny and potential for discrimination against foreign nationals, particularly scholars, based on their personal views or political opinions.

The French scientist being denied entry to the United States also highlights ongoing tensions regarding academic freedom, as scholars may face barriers to participating in international conferences or collaborations based on their political stances.

The Middle East Eye.