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French Researcher Expelled from U.S. Over Political Views
A researcher from France was denied entry into the United States and subsequently expelled for expressing personal opinions regarding former President Donald Trump’s research policies, as confirmed by French officials on March 19.
Philippe Baptiste, France’s research minister, communicated to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the individual, associated with France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), was on route to a conference near Houston when the incident occurred. Baptiste noted that the U.S. authorities acted on findings from the researcher’s phone, which reportedly included exchanges with colleagues in which he articulated criticism of Trump’s administration.
According to various sources, the affected researcher is involved in the space sector. While the specific details of the researcher and the conference remain undisclosed, the annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, a prominent event in space science, recently took place from March 10 to 14 in The Woodlands, a city located north of Houston.
Reports from AFP indicated that the researcher was selected for a routine inspection upon arrival in the U.S. During this check, officials allegedly found messages that expressed animosity towards Trump, which they categorized as potentially inflammatory.
The French government expressed significant concern regarding this event. Baptiste emphasized the importance of freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom, stating his commitment to advocate for these values on behalf of French researchers. Furthermore, the French foreign ministry reiterated its discontent regarding the incident, underscoring France’s dedication to upholding freedom of expression and scientific collaboration.
This situation unfolds during a turbulent period for space science in the United States, marked by actions taken during Trump’s second term, which included funding freezes, eliminations of diversity-related initiatives, and a reduction of the federal workforce focused on scientific inquiry. The potential for a drastic cut to NASA’s science budget—estimated at 50 percent—has alarmed many in the field, with organizations like The Planetary Society labeling such reductions as “an extinction-level event” for American space exploration.
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Other scientific institutions, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), have already seen significant staffing reductions. Reports indicate that funding for specific research areas, such as vaccine hesitancy, has been canceled, alongside mandates for agencies to compile lists of grants under scrutiny, particularly those associated with controversial topics like climate change and marginalized populations.
This event also reflects a broader trend involving the detention of foreign individuals, including academics, by U.S. immigration authorities under allegations of visa violations or political dissent. For instance, Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident who participated in protests at Columbia University against Israeli actions in Gaza, was apprehended for his alleged support of groups categorized as terrorists—though not for any direct participation in violent actions, as clarified by a White House official. The Trump administration further threatened Columbia University with the withdrawal of $400 million in federal grants unless it complied with demands to regulate protests on campus.
Baptiste has publicly criticized Trump’s administration as detrimental to the scientific community, pointing out that this situation may present an opportunity for France to attract American scientists seeking an environment conducive to research. On March 18, he shared a message on social media highlighting the role of scientific research in promoting Europe’s strategic autonomy, asserting, “Research is a priority at a time when the Trump administration is attacking free science and endangering entire sectors of research worldwide.”
In correspondence with French research institutions, he noted that many prominent scholars have begun to reevaluate their positions in the United States, expressing a desire to welcome some of these scientists to France.
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