The French investigator said French scientists were denied entry to the United States this month after an immigration officer at the airport searched his phone and found a message expressing criticism of the Trump administration.
French Minister of Higher Education Research, Philip Baptist said in a statement by the Aizens France Press on Monday that “French researchers learned with concerns about the CNRS’ mission regarding the assignment of the French National Centre for Science and Research (CNRS) that was travelling to a conference near Houston.” “The measure appears to have been taken by US authorities as researchers’ calls included interactions with colleagues and friends who expressed personal opinions about the Trump administration’s research policies,” the minister added.
“Freedom of opinion, free research, academic freedom are values that we continue to proudly support. I defend the right that all French researchers are loyal to them, while respecting the law,” Baptist said.
A diplomatic source told the French news agency that the incident occurred on March 9th.
Another AFP source said US authorities denounced French researchers with “hate and conspiratorial messages.” He was also reportedly notified of the FBI investigation, but was told that “the claim has been withdrawn” before being expelled.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The investigation minister Baptist has been frankly spoken about in his own criticism of the Trump administration and Elon Musk for a massive cut in the scientific research budget.
On the same day the researchers were denied entry to the US, Baptist published a letter calling for American researchers to move to France. “Many well-known researchers have already questioned their future in the United States,” he writes. “We would naturally like to welcome a certain number.”
The next day, Baptist posted a photo of himself in a virtual meeting with researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
On March 12th, Baptist shared the video on X. On the TV appearance, he lamented how health, climate, energy and AI research is “covered by chainsaws in the US.”
In the same interview, Baptist said, “I heard they say the International Space Station should be closed in 2027.
It was not immediately clear which conference the researchers denied entry into the US planned to attend, but the 56th Luna and Planetary Science Conference took place outside of Houston from March 10th to 14th.
