French academic denied entry to US for ‘personal opinion’ on Trump

[FreeinChrist]

French academic denied entry to US for ‘personal opinion’ on Trump

The Trump administration had recently accused Europe of curtailing free speech.

www.politico.eu

The French government said Thursday that a French academic was refused entry onto U.S. soil over comments he had expressed against policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump.​

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France’s Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said that “he had learned with concern that a French academic who was going to a conference in Houston was denied entry before being deported” back to Europe, according to a ministry statement seen by POLITICO.​

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“This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained conversations with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” he said.......​

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According to the AFP, the researcher was accused of sending messages “that expressed hatred towards Trump and can be qualified as terrorism,” but all charges against him were eventually dropped.​

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The news comes as the Trump administration has recently accused Europe of curtailing free speech, with Vice President JD Vance launching a blistering attack against the continent last month, saying in Munich: “I believe deeply that there is no security if you are afraid of the voices, the opinions and the conscience that guide your very own people.”​

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How incredibly hypocritical of Vance and Trump. They apparently can't let a person come to the US for a conference who has a negative opinion of Trump. I guess it hurts his little feelings.

 

[Bradskii]

I can't get my head around this. Does this mean that I could be banned from entering the US because my phone contains links to this forum. And my personal comments about what I think of Trump? Will this be part of the form you have to fill in at the airport?

Are you carrying any explosives?
Are you in possession of a firearm?
Are you entering the country with any prohibited foodstuffs.
Have you expressed any negative opinions about the President?

I might, just might expect something similar if I was entering North Korea. But the home of the brave and the land of the free?

 

[FreeinChrist]

Apparently that is the case. This is becoming like North Korea in that sense.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Remember when it was only communist countries that might deny you entry for possessing opinions contrary to the ruling dictatorship?

 

[Bradskii]

Remember when it was only communist countries that might deny you entry for possessing opinions contrary to the ruling dictatorship?

How far will they take this? You can't take bibles into China. So is Trump going to ban people entering the US from bringing in books that he doesn't like? And here's an awful thought: On an Australian passport you can put your gender down as male, female or X (non-binary/indeterminate/intersex/unspecified/other). Could an Australian who has that on their passport be banned from entry?

 

[ozso]

French academic denied entry to US for ‘personal opinion’ on Trump

The Trump administration had recently accused Europe of curtailing free speech.

www.politico.eu

The French government said Thursday that a French academic was refused entry onto U.S. soil over comments he had expressed against policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump.​

​

France’s Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said that “he had learned with concern that a French academic who was going to a conference in Houston was denied entry before being deported” back to Europe, according to a ministry statement seen by POLITICO.​

​

“This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained conversations with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” he said.......​

​

According to the AFP, the researcher was accused of sending messages “that expressed hatred towards Trump and can be qualified as terrorism,” but all charges against him were eventually dropped.​

​

The news comes as the Trump administration has recently accused Europe of curtailing free speech, with Vice President JD Vance launching a blistering attack against the continent last month, saying in Munich: “I believe deeply that there is no security if you are afraid of the voices, the opinions and the conscience that guide your very own people.”​

​

How incredibly hypocritical of Vance and Trump. They apparently can't let a person come to the US for a conference who has a negative opinion of Trump. I guess it hurts his little feelings.

Since the article doesn't seem to contain a transcript of what the French academic wrote, we don't know whether or not if what he wrote could've been perceived as threats against or calling for violence against the President.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Since the article doesn't seem to contain a transcript of what the French academic wrote, we don't know whether or not if what he wrote could've been perceived as threats against or calling for violence against the President.

Does it matter?
How many MAGA followers post death threats to various media or politial people perceived as insulting their leader, and we have the texts, and it is still considered free speech?

Why did they even go through the person's phone in the first place?

It is no wonder some countries like Germany are posting warnings about traveling to the US. There will be less tourism to the US as a result.
Look at what a decrease in tourism from Canada is expected to cost:

How Is Canada Tourism Boycott Affecting US Travel After Trump’s Threat to Make It the 51st State? - Travel And Tour World

Trump’s threat to annex Canada has sparked a tourism revolt, pushing Canadian visitors to abandon U.S. plans and flock to their northern neighbor instead.

www.travelandtourworld.com

However, with Trump’s tariffs on Canada and inflammatory rhetoric, travel experts warn that a 10% drop in Canadian visitation could result in:​

​

• 2 million fewer visits from Canadian tourists.
• $2.1 billion in lost spending across the US economy.
• 14,000 job losses in the American tourism industry.

 

[ozso]

Does it matter?
How many MAGA followers post death threats to various media or politial people perceived as insulting their leader, and we have the texts, and it is still considered free speech?

Why did they even go through the person's phone in the first place?

It is no wonder some countries like Germany are posting warnings about traveling to the US. There will be less tourism to the US as a result.
Look at what a decrease in tourism from Canada is expected to cost:

How Is Canada Tourism Boycott Affecting US Travel After Trump’s Threat to Make It the 51st State? - Travel And Tour World

Trump’s threat to annex Canada has sparked a tourism revolt, pushing Canadian visitors to abandon U.S. plans and flock to their northern neighbor instead.

www.travelandtourworld.com

However, with Trump’s tariffs on Canada and inflammatory rhetoric, travel experts warn that a 10% drop in Canadian visitation could result in:​

​

• 2 million fewer visits from Canadian tourists.
• $2.1 billion in lost spending across the US economy.
• 14,000 job losses in the American tourism industry.

Yes, it matters. There is certain stuff you can write about a president that can get you arrested. No matter who that president is. Since when hasn't there been a clear law against that?

Yes, what about this person attracted enough attention to cause authorities to go through his phone? That's a good question.

With all the hyperbolic sensationalized fear mongering that's being cranked out by liberal media, it's not surprising certain people have been made to feel afraid.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Yes, it matters. There is certain stuff you can write about a president that can get you arrested. No matter who that president is. Since when hasn't there been a clear law against that?

Yes, what about this person attracted enough attention to cause authorities to go through his phone? That's a good question.

With all the hyperbolic sensationalized fear mongering that's being cranked out by liberal media, it's not surprising certain people have been made to feel afraid.

For all we know, the person simply criticized Trump and called him a name.
Death threats against liberal media personalities and folks critical of Trump are documented. What is shared is too profane to post here.
Why is that okay?

AS to the French academic, he is a space researcher. Here is a more detailed article:

French space researcher denied entry to U.S. over views on Trump’s policies: report

The researcher was expelled for phone messages expressing “a private opinion” about Trump’s research policies, alarmed French officials said.

www.astronomy.com

A French researcher was denied entry to the United States and expelled from the country for expressing “a personal opinion” on U.S. president Donald Trump’s research policies, the French government said March 19.​

Who knows these days what is considered terrorism.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Another source:

French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found

France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched

www.theguardian.com

A diplomatic source told the French news agency that the incident occurred on 9 March. The scientist was on assignment for the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The same source said that messages discussing the Trump administration’s treatment of scientists had been found. The researcher was reportedly then accused of writings “that reflect hatred toward Trump and can be described as terrorism”.​

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Another AFP source said that US authorities accused the French researcher of “hateful and conspiratorial messages”. He was reportedly also informed of an FBI investigation, but told that “charges were dropped” before being expelled.​

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The research minister, Baptiste, has been outspoken in his own criticism of the Trump administration, and Elon Musk, for making huge cuts to scientific research budgets.​

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So no charges......it likely was just criticism of the cut in research going on and not serious harm to anyone then.

Vance's words to Europe a week ago are a joke.

 

[ozso]

For all we know, the person simply criticized Trump and called him a name.
Death threats against liberal media personalities and folks critical of Trump are documented. What is shared is too profane to post here.
Why is that okay?

AS to the French academic, he is a space researcher. Here is a more detailed article:

French space researcher denied entry to U.S. over views on Trump’s policies: report

The researcher was expelled for phone messages expressing “a private opinion” about Trump’s research policies, alarmed French officials said.

www.astronomy.com

A French researcher was denied entry to the United States and expelled from the country for expressing “a personal opinion” on U.S. president Donald Trump’s research policies, the French government said March 19.​

Who knows these days what is considered terrorism.

Likewise for all we know the person went further than generic criticism and name calling.

Needless to say there have also been death threats against conservatives and those supporting Trump that are well documented. Like this for example. Not that that's okay. But that's not the same as making threats against a sitting president according to law.

That's not detailed, it's vague. There's no way to properly assess the situation without seeing a transcript of what all was said by the French academic.

I get it though, the idea is that the Trump admin is a dystopic totalitarian regime that has established something along the lines of thought crime, and millions of people who don't bow down to and worship Trump will be carted off to a gulag (hyperbole mine).

 

[FreeinChrist]

Likewise for all we know the person went further than generic criticism and name calling.

Needless to say there have also been death threats against conservatives and those supporting Trump that are well documented. Like this for example. Not that that's okay. But that's not the same as making threats against a sitting president according to law.

That's not detailed, it's vague. There's no way to properly assess the situation without seeing a transcript of what all was said by the French academic.

I get it though, the idea is that the Trump admin is a dystopic totalitarian regime that has established something along the lines of thought crime, and millions of people who don't bow down to and worship Trump will be carted off to a gulag (hyperbole mine).

We know it was criticism of his policies about research and the cut in funding.
That is why there were no charges.

It is no wonder, though, that quite a few countries are warning their people from visiting America. France has said they will welcome scientists from the US who leave.

 

[ozso]

We know it was criticism of his policies about research and the cut in funding.
That is why there were no charges.

It is no wonder, though, that quite a few countries are warning their people from visiting America. France has said they will welcome scientists from the US who leave.

We still don't know what he said or why he drew attention in the first place. It seems if it was just the same sort of thing as anyone else, others would be having the same experience.

Who in other countries are warning their people from visiting America?

Likewise the US welcomes all the many scientists and technicians who left their country to live in America.

 

[Pommer]

Who in other countries are warning their people from visiting America?

Likewise the US welcomes all the many scientists and technicians who left their country to live in America.

Britain issued travel warning to its citizens since the USA has decided to be a bit more picayune in having all of the “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crost.

Also, in Germany,

Berlin has updated its travel advice for the United States to stress that holding a US visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for German citizens.

The change comes after three German nationals were detained while trying to enter the US.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said the ministry was taking these incidents seriously.

I’m sure that there’ll be an “expedited” Visa service, instituted, somewhere down-the-road and foreigners can fork up and pay an extra $400.00 for the “service”.

Totally, ethical, maybe, too.

 

[ozso]

Britain issued travel warning to its citizens since the USA has decided to be a bit more picayune in having all of the “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crost.

Also, in Germany,

Berlin has updated its travel advice for the United States to stress that holding a US visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for German citizens.

The change comes after three German nationals were detained while trying to enter the US.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said the ministry was taking these incidents seriously.

I’m sure that there’ll be an “expedited” Visa service, instituted, somewhere down-the-road and foreigners can fork up and extra $400.00 for the “service”.

Totally, ethical, maybe, too.

That's not warnings against visiting the US. Those are just travel advisories, which all countries have.

Although I do think visitors should be warned about all the rampant crime taking place in democrat run cities.

 

[FreeinChrist]

We still don't know what he said or why he drew attention in the first place. It seems if it was just the same sort of thing as anyone else, others would be having the same experience.

It was a random check. No indication is given that they were warned about him.

Who in other countries are warning their people from visiting America?

Likewise the US welcomes all the many scientists and technicians who left their country to live in America.

Germany, France, Britain to start. Canada should if it hasn't already.

America used to welcome scientists and higly skilled people who left their country for the US. That is changing.

 

[Pommer]

That's not warnings against visiting the US. Those are just travel advisories, which all countries have.

Although I do think visitors should be warned about all the rampant crime taking place in democrat run cities.

I don’t think any country has a “do not travel” to the United States. ”Travel warnings” encompasses more than your narrow and as yet undefined definition.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

How far will they take this? You can't take bibles into China. So is Trump going to ban people entering the US from bringing in books that he doesn't like? And here's an awful thought: On an Australian passport you can put your gender down as male, female or X (non-binary/indeterminate/intersex/unspecified/other). Could an Australian who has that on their passport be banned from entry?

Well they're already detaining tourists without charge or reason - in some cases in solitary confinement - so I could quite easily see them enacting those exact scenarios.

 

[ozso]

I don’t think any country has a “do not travel” to the United States.

I was responding to "It is no wonder, though, that quite a few countries are warning their people from visiting America".

”Travel warnings” encompasses more than your narrow and as yet undefined definition.

I didn't define it. I just called the two examples you posted as advisories, rather than being a "don't go there" warning.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I can't get my head around this. Does this mean that I could be banned from entering the US because my phone contains links to this forum. And my personal comments about what I think of Trump?

If you simply have to infiltrate our great nation with your unAmerican ideas, you could buy a burner phone.

ETA: The Onion