French scientist denied entry to US over opinion on Trump policy
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A French scientist travelling to a conference in the US was denied entry after expressing a personal opinion on the Trump administration's research policy.
PHOTO: REUTERS FILE
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PARIS – A French scientist has been denied entry into the US, apparently because the scientist had expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy, the French Education Ministry said on March 20.
Minister for Higher Education and Research Philippe Baptiste, in a statement to AFP, said: “I learnt with concern that a French researcher on assignment for the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who was travelling to a conference near Houston, was denied entry to the United States before being expelled.”
The measure was apparently taken because the scientist had expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy, he added without elaborating.
An Education Ministry spokesperson confirmed the reports by AFP and Le Monde over a scientist being denied entry, without giving details.
A spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection said privacy restrictions barred the agency from discussing specific cases, adding that every individual arriving in the country is subject to inspection on a case-by-case basis.
“If an individual has material discovered on their electronic media that raises flags during an inspection, it can result in further analysis. Claims that such decisions are politically motivated are completely unfounded,” Mr Hilton Beckham, the spokesman, said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has taken various steps to cut or freeze federal funding for universities, medical centres and other research institutions since he took office in January.
On border matters, Mr Trump has announced a number of immigration-related executive orders that focus on stricter border policy, tighter visa vetting procedures and a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the US.
Germany this week updated its travel advisory for the US to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for its citizens after several Germans were detained
In recent weeks, Britain has also revised its advice for citizens travelling to the US, to include a warning that anyone found breaking its entry rules could face arrest or detention. REUTERS
