Border officials reportedly barred the academic from visiting Texas after finding anti-Trump messages on his phone.
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Houston,theFrenchhaveaproblem.AspaceresearcherflyingintoHoustonforaconferencewaskickedoutoftheUnitedStatesafterborderofficerssearchedhisphoneandfoundhimexpressinganunfavorable“personalopinionontheTrumpadministration’sresearchpolicy,”FrenchMinisterofHigherEducationandResearchPhilippeBaptistetoldAgenceFrance-PresseonWednesday.
It’snotclearexactlywhattheoffendingcontentwas.One“diplomaticsource”toldAgenceFrance-Pressethattheunnamedscientist,whoworksforFrance’sNationalCenterforScientificResearch,wasaccusedofmessages“thatreflecthatredtowards[PresidentDonald]Trumpandcanbedescribedasterrorism.”Anothersource,whoplacedtheincidentonMarch9,saidthescientistwasthreatenedwithanFBIinvestigationfor“hatefulandconspiratorialmessages.”
Askedaboutthereport,theFBI’sHoustonofficereferredReasontoU.S.CustomsandBorderProtection(CBP),wh