[anonfordays]

That was fake news:

  "The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory— in violation of a non-disclosure agreement—something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal.

  Any claim that his removal was based on political beliefs is blatantly false."

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/20/french-researcher-den...

[Timon3]

You're quoting a statement from the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. Given the well-documented history of lies from the current administration, why should we take a statement from a person under their control as fact? It'd be a different thing if such a statement came from the french side, but according to the article you posted they haven't given one.

Let's not forget that the VP literally admitted to creating fake stories to influence public opinion. At this point, any statement by the administration & people under their control should be taken as evidence to the contrary, unless it's corroborated by outside sources.

[anonfordays]

>You're quoting a statement from the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.

Trust the experts.

>Given the well-documented history of lies from the current administration, why should we take a statement from a person under their control as fact?

The past N administrations have well-documented histories of lying.

>Let's not forget that the VP literally admitted to creating fake stories to influence public opinion.

Sounds like exactly what this scientist did.

[ayhanfuat]

It is hard to believe a French researcher, traveling from France to the US, was in possession of confidential information he retrieved from a US national lab. It is harder to believe they didn't arrest him for this.

[anonfordays]

>It is hard to believe a French researcher, traveling from France to the US, was in possession of confidential information he retrieved from a US national lab.

Not at all, it's much more believable than the original story. Traveling scientists frequently work at national labs.

>It is harder to believe they didn't arrest him for this.

Nondisclosure agreements are civil in nature, not criminal.

[jpambrun]

Are civil affairs litigated at the border by custom agents now?

[bdangubic]

yes

[anonfordays]

They always have been, overstaying your visa is an example of a civil violation, placing it in the purvue of ICE. You have less protections/rights afforded to you in civil proceedings versus criminal ones.

[leereeves]

I wonder how many of the media sources who reported the original story will also report the correction with equal coverage.

[anonfordays]

This story has basically evaporated from the public after the correction came out. That should tell you everything you need to know.