U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have publicly refuted reports claiming that a Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, was denied entry into the United States due to a meme referencing Vice President JD Vance found on his phone.
The incident, which occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, drew significant international attention following an initial report by Norwegian media outlet Nordlys. The outlet claimed Mikkelsen was turned away by U.S. border officials after they found a meme of Vice President Vance and a photo of a pipe on his mobile device during an inspection.
However, U.S. officials insist the denial of entry had nothing to do with politics or the meme.
“FACT CHECK: Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a meme are unequivocally FALSE,” the Department of Homeland Security posted on Facebook. “TRUTH: Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. Only those who respect our laws and follow our rules will be welcomed into our country.”
A statement posted by CBP on X (formerly Twitter) echoed this position, clarifying that "political reasons" played no role in the decision.
Mikkelsen — not to be confused with the well-known Danish actor of the same name — told Nordlys that he had admitted to trying marijuana once in Germany and once in Mexico. He said he believed the information was irrelevant, as the drug is legal in both countries and in several U.S. states. However, cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law, which governs immigration and border control.
In response to the growing attention, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated:
“Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. The JD Vance meme had no bearing on the decision.”
Can Travelers Be Denied Entry to the U.S.?
Yes. Foreign nationals can be refused entry for a variety of reasons, including past drug use, even if the substance was consumed legally abroad. Since 2025, the U.S. has also implemented increased scrutiny at borders as part of enhanced national security and immigration protocols. Entry restrictions and bans currently apply to nearly 20 countries.
While U.S. citizens cannot be denied reentry, they may still face questioning, searches, and temporary detainment at ports of entry.
Can Border Officials Search Your Phone?
Yes. CBP has legal authority to inspect electronic devices—including phones, laptops, and tablets—at all U.S. ports of entry. These searches are used to uncover violations such as terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling, child exploitation, and immigration fraud.
According to CBP, fewer than 0.01% of the nearly 1 million daily entrants to the U.S. undergo electronic device searches, a statistic that has remained consistent in recent years.
CBP emphasizes that these searches help determine the intent and admissibility of travelers under U.S. immigration law and are not typically driven by political or ideological factors.
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Source: usatoday.com
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