Border scandal in Houston: French researchers rejected for Trump criticism!

Border scandal in Houston: French researchers rejected for Trump criticism!

Houston, Texas, USA - An incident in the US state of Texas ensures increased diplomatic pressure between France and the USA. A French space researcher, invited to a conference in Houston, was subjected to a routine security control, which soon led to a Germany -wide outcry. As the Krone , his labor computer and his private cell phone were confiscated and searched. The reason? In his private news, the scientist expressed criticism of the research policy of the Trump government, which was classified as potentially suspicious by the US border authorities.

Incase and reactions follow a worrying pattern in the USA, as reported by the Tages-Anzeiger . The French University Minister Philippe Baptiste expressed his regret about the expulsion of the scientist and emphasized that such measures threaten the fundamental values of freedom of expression and academic freedom. The US authorities justified their restrictive measures with "hateful and conspiratorial news" that they focused on. The reason for the exclusion of the scientist was interpreted as part of a larger political agenda that was adopted during Trump's term in office and unsettled numerous researchers.

diplomatic tensions and freedom of expression

When entering the researcher, who works for the important research institution CNRS, an intensive search of his electronic devices due to "suspicious" content. The correspondence found, which was interpreted as an expression of a "hatred of Trump", led to the confiscation of devices and ultimately to reject the scientist to Europe. This creates concerns about freedom of expression in the United States, especially when critical voices from the academic area encounter massive resistance, said Baptiste. The French government then also raised questions about the harassment of international scientists and their security in the United States, because other foreigners also had to cancel their trips under similar circumstances.