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23h ago

CBP Says Tourist Denied Entry for Admitted Drug Use, Not JD Vance Meme

Authorities say Mads Mikkelsen’s admission of past cannabis use during a phone search at Newark Liberty International Airport prompted his deportation

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What's The 'Bald J.D. Vance' Meme And Why Is A Norwegian Tourist Claiming It Led To His Rejection From The U.S.? The Viral Edit Explained
Norwegian Tourist Denied Entry to U.S. For J.D. Vance Meme Claim

Overview

  • Mads Mikkelsen, a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, was detained and subjected to intense questioning at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 11 after officials demanded he hand over his phone.
  • He alleged that officers threatened him with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison for refusing to hand over his phone password and claimed they cited a JD Vance caricature meme as the basis for denying his entry.
  • On June 25, US Customs and Border Protection used its official X account to reject the meme explanation and confirmed the denial of entry was based solely on Mikkelsen’s own admissions of cannabis use.
  • Mikkelsen acknowledged having used cannabis on two occasions in Germany and New Mexico, which CBP cited as disqualifying under existing immigration regulations.
  • The case highlights expanded authority for device searches and tougher scrutiny of travelers under the Trump administration, prompting several nations to issue new US travel advisories.