"French officials have expressed their dismay after a French scientist was denied entry into the United States because immigration officers found text messages containing a "personal opinion" about the Trump administration and its policies on scientific research."

"The French foreign ministry said its consulate had been informed of the incident, adding that it "deplored the situation".

However, the ministry said the United States had the "sovereign" right to decide who could enter or remain on its territory.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and sent to the AFP news agency, France's Minister of Higher Education and Research Philippe Baptiste said he had “learned with concern” that a space researcher working for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) was stopped for a random check at an unspecified US airport and expelled due to critical text messages about US President Donald Trump.

“This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” the minister said."

Louise Nordstrom reports for France 24 March 20, 2025. [2]