United States: French researcher turned back for expressing “personal opinion on Trump administration’s policy

www.lemonde.fr

Etats-Unis : un chercheur français refoulé pour avoir exprimé « une opinion personnelle sur la politique menée par l’administration Trump »

"The space researcher was allegedly randomly checked on arrival, during which his professional computer and personal telephone were allegedly searched. Similarly, messages about the Trump administration’s treatment of scientists have been found."

États-unis @jlai.lu

Guillaume @jlai.lu

2w ago

Etats-Unis : un chercheur français refoulé pour avoir exprimé « une opinion personnelle sur la politique menée par l’administration Trump »

www.lemonde.fr /international/article/2025/03/19/etats-unis-un-chercheur-francais-refoule-pour-avoir-exprime-une-opinion-personnelle-sur-la-politique-menee-par-l-administration-trump_6583618_3210.html

News @lemmy.world

floofloof @lemmy.ca

2w ago

United States: French researcher turned back for expressing “personal opinion on Trump administration’s policy

Privacy @lemmy.world

cm0002 @lemmy.world

2w ago

United States: French researcher turned back for expressing “personal opinion on Trump administration’s policy

28 comments

1st Amendment protections on freedom of speech apply to everyone in the USA, regardless of citizenship. Frenchman should sue.
- That doesn’t de jure apply to non-citizens at the border, never mind de facto.
  
  Rights don't apply to non-citizens? You sure?
- Visitors to the US have been asked if they were members of the communist party since forever though?
  IDK if those who replied "yes" would be sent back, but I do remember reading about Chinese communist party members being denied entry to the US.
  I don't see much difference between this and that as far as the 1st amendment is concerned... aren't you idealizing the 1st amendment (and/or how seriously the US takes it)?
  PS: let me make clear that I'm not trying to defend the indefensible behaviour of the Trump administration in any way
- The important judges are trumps pals.
- There’s no first or fourth amendment rights within 100 miles of the border of the USA. Probably other missing rights too.
  
  That's not true, because the Constitution applies to the whole place. Americans and non-citizens freely exercise those rights in those areas daily.
  If any agent of the government tells you otherwise, you must educate them and enforce the free exercise of your own rights.
- I was under the understanding that when in customs TSA overrides an American Citizens constitutional rights...
  Basically, you don't have a 1st ammendment right as an American Citizen.
  
  Nope, that is not correct. The rights remain in place and may be exercised at will.

Clown country thought police.
- i didn't expect to see a monty-python/star-trek response to current events; but i'll allow it. lol

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
- He committed treason last term, but got away with it thanks to servile Republicans.
  
  And Garland
  Garland more than republicans because Garland was supposed to have a soul
- You must have an outdated version. The current version is “We announce that there must be no criticism of the President, and that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong. Anything else is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Time to stay away from the USA.
- Has been for a few decades, but now more than ever.
- Calgon, take me away...
  please!
- This above all

I heard from a Redditor that his tweets were luring US scientists to EU and his visit was a recruitment drive. One USAmerican already took up the offer.
I imagine US does not want to identify him because although we could verify the above in his tweets, it would be advertising the lure for US scientists to defect.
And the French guy probably does not want to identify himself because je wants to make the US government look as bad as possible.
Not random, not as bad as the headline sounds but not worthy of banning anyhow.

Are the checks really random? If not, what would trigger one?

28 comments