French scientist denied entry into U.S. over criticism of Trump's policies

The French government claims that a scientist was denied entry into the U.S. because of criticisms made about President Donald Trump's policies.

However, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), refuted this assertion by the French government, telling the New York Times that the scientist not being allowed to enter the U.S. had nothing to do with his personal beliefs. 

Why was the scientist unable to enter the U.S.?

The backstory:

The scientist, who has not been identified, works for France’s publicly funded National Center for Scientific Research and specializes in outer space research and was heading to a conference near Houston in early March.

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Philippe Baptiste, the French minister for higher education, told the New York Times that the scientist was not allowed in the U.S. because his phone had message exchanges with coworkers and friends which offered his opinions on President Donald Trump’s scientific research policies. 

The Department of Homeland Security responds

What they're saying:

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin pushed back on Philippe Baptiste’s allegation, saying it was false. 

According to the New York Times, McLaughlin said Thursday that the French scientist was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device, which she elaborated is a "violation of a nondisclosure agreement — something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal."

On Friday, Baptiste doubled down on his claim that the scientist was being targeted because of his opinions about the Trump administration’s policies.

Baptiste shared in an interview with Sud Radio that he hadn’t talked to the scientist, but his ministry contacted him.