Tourist banned from US over 'single image on phone' - but airport hits back
A holidaymaker who wanted to visit pals in New York claims a political meme put him in hot water but The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a robust denial
Political memes are hugely popular on the internet but one holidaymaker with a funny picture on his phone claimed he was "made to feel like a terrorist" when he tried to enter the United States.
Tourist Mads Mikkelsen, 21, had arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 with plans to visit friends in New York City before making his way to Austin, Texas.
Mads said that when immigration officers found a meme of US Vice President JD Vance on the Norwegian's phone, he wasn't allowed into the country.
"I was subjected to abuse of power and harassment," he told Norwegian newspaper Nordlys. "They took me to a room with several armed guards, where I had to hand over my shoes, mobile phone and backpack."
The tourist claimed he was quizzed about "drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism... totally without reason" before being thrown in a cell. But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, hit back with a firm denial, saying: "Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons".
Mads said officials threatened him with jail or a $5,000 (£3,600) fine if he didn't give them access to his phone. He claimed agents then found the Vance meme, which distorted the politician's face to make it cartoonish, chubby and bald and it was game over.
"The picture had been automatically saved to my camera roll from a chat app but I really didn't think that these innocent pictures would put a stop to my entry into the country," said Mads, who claimed he was next forced to give blood samples and supply fingerprints.
"It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting," he added. "I tried to pull myself together several times but in the end, I just wanted to get home."
But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the story wasn't quite as Mads had painted it. "Fact Check: FALSE," they wrote on X. "Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use."
Mads told Nordlys that he was questioned at the airport about illegal drug use. He admitted to having used cannabis on two occasions - in Germany and in New Mexico. "It's legal in both places, so in my mind it was irrelevant," he said.
The tourist also said he never got the impression that the drug-related questions were an issue at the time of questioning.
The Norwegian was flown back to Norway the same day and when his claims reached social media, supporters branded his US ban "authoritarian". "Remember when JD Vance went to Germany to lecture them about free speech?" said one user on X.
"So much for free speech. Note to visitors: Best not come for a few years," added another supporter.
Mads' ban comes after reports last month that an Australian woman was detained and jailed overnight before being deported. Nikki Saroukus, a former police officer from Sydney who was visiting her US military husband, had arrived for a three week holiday with her mum when she was taken in for questioning.
"They were asking me about ice and meth and whether I knew how much was being imported from New Zealand," said Nikki, who was allegedly forced to sign a document stating she was not a part of a cartel and had no affiliation with gang members.
The Australian claimed she was handcuffed and subjected to an in-depth cavity search before being detained overnight and flown back home.
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