In a statement that addresses escalating concerns regarding academic freedom, U.S. officials have refuted claims by the French government that a scientist was denied entry to the United States based on his opinions about the Trump administration. According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the scientist was barred from entry due to possession of confidential data from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, not for his personal views.
U.S. Denies Claims of Political Motivation in French Scientist's Entry Denial
U.S. Denies Claims of Political Motivation in French Scientist's Entry Denial
The Department of Homeland Security clarifies that a French scientist was turned away due to confidential data, not political beliefs amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions.
The French researcher, a specialist in outer space science, was reportedly en route to a conference in Houston when he was denied entry. French Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste asserted that the scientist had been targeted due to messages on his phone in which he expressed critiques of Trump's scientific policies. McLaughlin categorically rejected this assertion, calling it “blatantly false” and emphasizing that the scientist admitted to having taken sensitive information without permission.
While the circumstances around the scientist's previous interactions with Los Alamos remain unclear, the laboratory is renowned for its pivotal role in the development of nuclear technology. It currently serves as a major research facility under the National Nuclear Security Administration and engages in a variety of scientific endeavors.
Baptiste maintained that the case raises serious questions about academic freedoms and the ability of scientists to enter the U.S. for collaborative work. He indicated that although countries have the right to regulate their borders, the deportation of the scientist based on his opinions constitutes an “extraordinarily atypical” incident and is a matter of considerable concern.
The episode has caught the attention of the French Academy of Sciences, which has condemned the deportation as a breach of essential academic freedoms, including the rights to thought, expression, and movement.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting from Washington D.C., and Ségolène Le Stradic from Paris. Aurelien Breeden is a Paris-based correspondent for The Times.
While the circumstances around the scientist's previous interactions with Los Alamos remain unclear, the laboratory is renowned for its pivotal role in the development of nuclear technology. It currently serves as a major research facility under the National Nuclear Security Administration and engages in a variety of scientific endeavors.
Baptiste maintained that the case raises serious questions about academic freedoms and the ability of scientists to enter the U.S. for collaborative work. He indicated that although countries have the right to regulate their borders, the deportation of the scientist based on his opinions constitutes an “extraordinarily atypical” incident and is a matter of considerable concern.
The episode has caught the attention of the French Academy of Sciences, which has condemned the deportation as a breach of essential academic freedoms, including the rights to thought, expression, and movement.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting from Washington D.C., and Ségolène Le Stradic from Paris. Aurelien Breeden is a Paris-based correspondent for The Times.
