A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, has reported being denied entry into the United States due to an incident involving a meme on his phone. Mikkelsen arrived at Newark Airport on June 11, looking forward to his vacation, but was unexpectedly detained by immigration officers, who he claims subjected him to harassment and abuse of power.
According to Mikkelsen’s account to a Norwegian news outlet, he was pulled aside for questioning about potential connections to drug trafficking, terrorism, and right-wing extremism, which he described as entirely unwarranted. He stated that officers threatened him with substantial penalties, including a $5,000 fine or five years in prison, if he did not provide the password to his phone.
Upon reviewing the contents of his mobile device, the officials found a meme depicting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in a humorous manner, which led to Mikkelsen being sent back to Norway on the same day he had arrived.
This incident is not isolated, as it echoes a recent case involving Australian writer Alistair Kitchen, who reported being turned away from the U.S. after being interrogated about his views on the Gaza conflict and his writings concerning pro-Palestinian protests. Kitchen, who had previously lived in the U.S. for six years, was detained for 12 hours at Los Angeles International Airport before being returned to Australia. He claimed that his political beliefs led to his refusal of entry, a statement that the Department of Homeland Security has disputed.
Such occurrences raise important questions about the intersection of immigration policy and personal expression, indicating a growing concern regarding the treatment of travelers based on their views or humor expressed through social media.
Despite the troubling nature of these incidents, they shed light on the need for fair treatment at borders and the importance of safeguarding individual rights, regardless of one’s opinion or humor. As society continues to grapple with the balance between security and personal freedom, cases like Mikkelsen’s highlight the complexities involved in modern immigration enforcement.