A tourist says he wasn’t let into the US, and the reason? Well… wild.
Turns out, if you’re entering the States, there’s a chance border agents might check your phone. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s totally allowed.
CBP’s website actually says, “CBP’s ability to lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border is integral to keeping America safe in an increasingly digital world.”
And they add that “All travelers crossing the US border are subject to CBP inspection. On rare occasions, CBP officers may search a traveler’s mobile phone, computer, camera, or other electronic devices during the inspection process.”
Border agents can search your phone under certain conditions
Even though they call it rare, a lot of people feel like these checks are happening more often lately.
Some folks even recommend turning off Face ID or shutting off your phone entirely before a trip, just to be safe.
CBP agents can apparently unlock your phone with your face, and it doesn’t break any rules. That’s got some travelers a little nervous.
A tourist claims a meme led to his denial of entry
One of those travelers was 21-year-old Mads Mikkelsen. (No, not the actor from Casino Royale.)
He says border officers went through his phone and found a meme of Vice President JD Vance, where he looked bald and had an egg-shaped head.
Mads says that’s the moment things went downhill. He claims they wouldn’t let him into the US after that.
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The meme in question was originally shared on X
That meme wasn’t even his. It came from a user on X (formerly Twitter) named @DaveMcNamee3000.
Back in October 2024, the user posted the meme and joked he’d “turn JD Vance into a progressively apple cheeked baby” for every 100 likes it got.
Mads described the experience as harassment
He told Mail Online the whole thing felt like, in his words, “abuse of power and harassment.”
He also told the Norwegian outlet Nordlys, “They asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason.”
He says he was threatened for refusing to unlock his phone
According to Mads, the situation got worse when he didn’t want to give up his phone password.
He says agents told him he’d get a fine of “$5,000 or five years in prison if I refused to provide the password to my phone.”
He says he wasn’t even allowed to leave the airport and ended up in a holding cell.
Authorities say the meme was not the reason for denial
Not long after his story started spreading, US officials pushed back.
CBP posted a screenshot of the Mail Online story and tweeted, “Fact Check: FALSE. Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”
Officials cite drug use as the real reason for the denial
The Department of Homeland Security also posted on Facebook: “FACT CHECK. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a meme are unequivocally FALSE.”
They added, “Mikkelson was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. Only those who respect our laws and follow the rules will be welcomed into our country.”
