French Researcher Expelled from U.S. Over Confidentiality Breach, Raising Academic Freedom Concerns

U.S. officials cite possession of sensitive Los Alamos data, while French authorities question political motivations and implications for international collaboration.

A French researcher was expelled from the U.S. on March 10, 2025, after being detained at Houston airport during a customs inspection.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims the researcher violated a confidentiality agreement by possessing sensitive information from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
French Minister of Higher Education Philippe Baptiste suggested the expulsion might have been influenced by private messages critical of Trump’s policies, a claim denied by U.S. authorities.
The French government and scientific institutions expressed alarm, emphasizing the incident’s threat to academic freedom and international research cooperation.
The case reflects heightened immigration scrutiny under the Trump administration and has intensified concerns within the global scientific community about restrictions on academic freedoms.