A JD Vance meme becomes the latest chapter in the US's strict border policy and leaves uncertainty in the international mobility sector about the processes carried out at the borders.
Can a meme keep you from vacationing? A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, says he landed in Newark with the innocent idea of spending his vacation between New York and Texas, but he soon found himself detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) after they found a meme of JD Vance (US Vice President) on his phone.
According to Mikkelsen, he was interrogated about terrorism, drugs, and extremism, and then forced to unlock his phone under threat. After the meme was discovered (a filtered image of Vance showing him with a "baby" face and baldness), he was sent back to Norway that same day.
Border authorities deny that the meme was the reason for the expulsion, arguing that the real cause was the admission of drug use and the detection of a photo of a homemade pipe on his device.
Both CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) have labeled the meme's explanation as "bogus" or "BS" (Bullshit, a colloquial way of expressing that something is false, a lie, or an exaggeration).
Whether it's a political joke or a consumer issue, the case has sparked a wave of outrage on social media and international media. Several international politicians have even questioned the legality of the mobile phone border check protocol.
This event adds to the many controversies facing the U.S. regarding immigration, with its aggressive deportation policy and the shadow looming over the actions of ICE agents, who have been accused by numerous migrants of abusing power, degrading practices, and illegal detentions.
On the other side of the Atlantic, if you're planning to visit the United States, it's best to be cautious and clean your phone of images that could compromise your entry into the country, leaving your sense of humor and memes at home.
