A French scientist was recently barred from entering the United States after border officials searched his electronic devices and found messages criticizing former President Donald Trump. The scientist, whose name remains undisclosed, was traveling to Houston, Texas, for a conference when he was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While the reason for the initial stop is unclear, agents conducted a search of his devices and reportedly found messages that were interpreted as hostile toward Trump. According to a source speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the messages were deemed to contain sentiments that could be “qualified as terrorism.”
Despite this claim, the allegations did not hold up under scrutiny. The FBI briefly opened an inquiry into the matter but swiftly closed it. However, the scientist was still denied entry and deported back to France the following day. This incident raises concerns about the increasing scrutiny of political opinions at U.S. borders, particularly regarding individuals critical of the Trump administration. While CBP agents have the authority to inspect travelers’ phones and computers, such searches remain rare, reportedly affecting fewer than one in every 10,000 travelers.
France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, strongly condemned the decision to deport the scientist. In a public statement, he emphasized that the individual was targeted solely for expressing personal opinions about Trump’s research policies. Baptiste reaffirmed France’s commitment to academic freedom and the right of researchers to voice their perspectives without fear of persecution. His remarks underscored the growing concern that political viewpoints—particularly those opposing Trump—are being treated as grounds for exclusion from the U.S.
This deportation also highlights broader patterns under the Trump administration, which has been accused of suppressing free speech, particularly among noncitizens. Previous cases include individuals with student visas and green cards facing similar repercussions for expressing critical opinions. This latest incident suggests that even foreign visitors are not exempt from this crackdown, with political beliefs now seemingly playing a role in determining who is allowed entry into the U.S.
The timing of this event is also significant, coming just weeks after Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European leaders for allegedly stifling free speech. While Vance praised the Trump administration for defending the right to express diverse viewpoints, actions like this deportation contradict such claims. Instead of promoting open discourse, the administration appears to be enforcing ideological conformity at the border, raising troubling questions about the state of free speech in the U.S.