 |
| Welcome (posted on You Tube by Omeleto |
"The incident occurred on March 9, 2025, when a French space researcher from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) was detained in Houston airport while en route to a conference, according to Le Monde and other reports.< His professional and personal equipment was reportedly confiscated, and the researcher was sent back to Europe on March 10.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted a random search, discovering messages on the researcher’s phone criticizing the Trump administration’s science policies, which led to his expulsion, as reported by The New Republic and Newsweek.
France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, expressed concern, stating the researcher was banned for expressing personal opinions on Trump’s research policies, as noted in Le Monde.
According to a diplomatic source, social media messages discussing the Trump administration's treatment of scientists were found on his phone personal phone and as a result, the man was allegedly accused of messages "that reflect hatred toward Trump and can be classified as terrorism", according to another source familiar with the matter, he was accused of "hateful and conspiratorial messages".
An FBI investigation was reportedly announced, for which "charges were dropped," the source continued.
This case aligns with broader concerns about heightened immigration enforcement and potential curbs on free speech under the Trump administration, with similar detentions reported for other international visitors, according to Newsweek.
The Trump administration’s policies, including cuts to scientific research funding and the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts, have sparked criticism, contributing to the context of the researcher’s detention, as detailed in The New Republic.
Aix-Marseille University in France has launched a “Safe Place for Science” initiative to host U.S. researchers affected by Trump administration policies, reflecting a growing international response, as reported by Le Monde on March 17, 2025"
Unfortunately, the available information from Le Monde, The New Republic, The Guardian, and other sources does not mention the researcher’s skin color, ethnicity, or any physical descriptors. Based on my own observations even in pre-MAGA days of very obvious racial profiling at US airports, one might have suspicions of what happened here. So much for the respect for free speech. Probably only works if you are White and on the political right.
What actually constitutes a "conspiritorial" tweet (in French) according to ma US Border officuial? And just how does the USA define here "terrorim" in the case of a tweet or social media post?
I hope the man comes forward and shows us what made patranoid US officials overrreact in this way. If only they were so assiduous about catching antiquities smugglers and their suppliers and clients.
Paris déplore le refoulement d’un scientifique français par les États-UnisOuest-France 19/03/2025
"French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found" The Guardian: March 19, 2025.
Update:
Geez, Canadian citizen Jasmine Mooney is back home after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained her at the border in San Diego as she was reapplying for her work visa. She describes the 12-day ordeal of being shipped to various facilities, sleeping on concrete, no proper food? "I do not wish it upon anyone": BC woman detained for 12 days at US border details ordeal; " 'The most inhumane thing I've ever seen': Canadian on being detained by U.S. border officials"
No comments:
Post a Comment