A French scientist has been denied that he was administered to the US after being found to have expressed an opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy, the country’s research minister said.
The unnamed researcher was on his way to a conference held near Houston when he was subjected to a random check, and his work computer and personal phone searched on March 9, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reported.
A diplomatic source told the agency the researcher is accused of having messages “that reflect hatred Trump and can be described as terrorism.
Another source said the researcher was accused of having “hateful and conspiracy messages”.
They said the FBI opened an investigation, but ‘charges were dropped’.
There is no suggestion that he was directly involved in the episode, Donald Trump repeatedly showed hostility to someone who is critical of him
The first source said that the researcher’s professional and personal equipment was confiscated, and that they were returned to Europe the next day.
“I have been concerned that a French researcher who traveled to a conference near Houston was denied access to the United States before he was suspended,” said Research Minister Philippe Baptists, according to AFP.
“This measure was apparently taken by the US 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 added.
“Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values that we will proudly maintain.”
Mr. Baptists said the scientist is part of the French National Center for Scientific Research and the AFP news agency described him as a space researcher.
Read more from Sky News:
PM Visit a rare visit to nuclear -armed sub to show the UK’s power
Defense firms demand ‘patriotic’ banking
New rules can prevent Muskus from making unlimited donations to reform
On the same day when the scientist was denied, Mr. Baptists published a letter to US research institutions telling them that they would be welcome France.
“Many well -known researchers are already questioning their future in the United States,” he said in the letter. “Of course we want to welcome a certain number of them.”
The US Department of Home Security has been contacted for comment.
