US Official Disputes French Account of Scientist Entry Denied
A U.S. official has refuted the French government’s assertion that a scientist was barred from entering the United States due to opinions expressed regarding the Trump administration. The official termed the claim “blatantly false.”
Despite ongoing concerns voiced by French authorities regarding academic freedom violations, Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, stated the scientist’s denial of entry was unrelated to personal beliefs.
Confidential Data Allegation
Ms. McLaughlin asserted late Thursday that “The French researcher in question possessed confidential information on an electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory — a breach of a nondisclosure agreement. He reportedly admitted to unauthorized acquisition and attempted concealment.”
Earlier in the week, Philippe Baptiste, the French Minister for Higher Education, mentioned that the scientist, an expert in space research whose identity remains undisclosed, was en route to a conference near Houston.
Conflicting Explanations Emerge
According to Mr. Baptiste, the scientist was denied U.S. entry because his phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends expressing “personal opinions” on President Trump’s science and research policies.
However, Ms. McLaughlin dismissed this account. “Any suggestion that his removal stemmed from political views is unequivocally false,” she declared, without elaborating further.
Los Alamos National Laboratory Link
The timeline and nature of the scientist’s potential work or association with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico remain unclear.
Notably, Los Alamos National Laboratory is renowned for its pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb.
Currently, it functions as a premier research institution under the National Nuclear Security Administration, while also engaging in diverse scientific research. Laboratory spokesperson Jennifer Talhelm indicated they are “collaborating with federal officials to gain deeper insight into the incident” concerning the scientist.
French Research Center Responds
The scientist is employed by France’s National Center for Scientific Research, a publicly funded organization. Representatives from the center indicated the scientist’s unwillingness to engage with the media. They have not immediately addressed the Department of Homeland Security’s allegations.
Similarly, the office of Mr. Baptiste, formerly head of the French National Center for Space Studies prior to his 2024 ministerial appointment, has not commented.
On Friday, Mr. Baptiste reiterated his assertion that the scientist was targeted due to private discussions and opinions regarding the Trump administration’s policies.
In a Sud Radio interview, he stated he had not directly spoken with the scientist, but his ministry was in communication.
Mr. Baptiste acknowledged, “Each nation has the prerogative to manage its borders.” He then added that the scientist’s situation was “highly unusual” and a “cause for concern.”
This concern is echoed by the French Academy of Sciences, which released a statement Thursday asserting that the scientist’s deportation “gravely undermines fundamental academic freedoms: freedom of thought, expression, and movement.”