US Agencies Report No Records of Tourist Flagged for JD Vance Meme

In a recent case that has garnered attention, 21-year-old Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry into the United States, sparking controversies around how his case was handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This incident began when a JD Vance meme was allegedly found on his phone, leading to his detention.

Mikkelsen, represented by Oslo-based attorney Albion Vestby, claims he was held for 18 hours at Newark Liberty International Airport without access to the Norwegian consulate, a situation complicated by ICE and CBP’s denial of keeping official records of the incident. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents including biometric data and immigration records returned no results, further fuelling suspicions about procedural anomalies.

Vestby is vocal about the broader implications of this case, emphasizing the need for transparency in how travelers are treated and the basis on which they might be detained or refused entry. Mikkelsen reported that he faced interrogation about potential extremist ties and drug smuggling, and was pressured to hand over device passwords.

Conflicting narratives have emerged, with DHS publicly citing marijuana use in legal jurisdictions as grounds for rejection, while CBP documentation suggests suspected illegal employment motives. The agency’s response to the FOIA request, or the lack thereof, has been met with appeals and potential legal action by Vestby.

ICE and CBP’s responses have been criticized as incomplete and evasive, with Mikkelsen expressing concern over the missing documents, such as the I-877 form, which he retained a copy of but was not available in the FOIA response. The handling of Mikkelsen’s case underscores the ongoing debate about privacy, data handling, and procedural transparency in immigration processes.