Tourist claims he was denied entry into US and jailed after border agents find JD Vance meme in his phone
The Department of Homeland Security has refuted the man's claims
Niamh Shackleton
A tourist has claimed he was denied entry into the US for a rather unusual reason.
People wishing to enter America risk having their phone checked by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers have long held.
The CBP website states: "CBP’s ability to lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border is integral to keeping America safe in an increasingly digital world.
"All travelers crossing the United States border are subject to CBP inspection. On rare occasions, CBP officers may search a traveler’s mobile phone, computer, camera, or other electronic devices during the inspection process."
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While they say it's 'rare' that devices are checked, some believe there's been an increase in officers exercising this right of late, so much so people are being urged to turn their iPhone's face ID off before their travels, or to turn their cellphone off completely.
This is because CBP officers can reportedly unlock your device using your likeness 'without violating the Constitution'.
One person who claims to have recently had their phone checked is 21-year-old Mads Mikkelsen (no, not the Casino Royale actor).
Mads says that when officers looked through his phone, they discovered a meme of Vice President JD Vance with no hair and an egg-shaped head, resulting in them denying him entry in the US.
The original meme was made by X user @DaveMcNamee3000, who initially created the picture in October 2024, vowing to ' turn JD Vance into a progressively apple cheeked baby' for every 100 likes it got.
Mads says the incident was 'abuse of power and harassment', per Mail Online.
"They asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason," he went on to tell Nordlys.
Mads also alleged that was threatened 'with a minimum fine of $5,000 or five years in prison if I refused to provide the password to my phone'.
Supposedly, he was not allowed to leave the airport and put in a cell.
In light of Mads' allegations coming to light, American authorities have denied that he wasn't allowed into the US as a result of the odd Vance meme.
Sharing a screengrab of a Mail Online article on the matter, CBP tweeted: "Fact Check: FALSE. Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use."
The Department of Homeland Security has also refuted Mads' claims. It wrote on Facebook: "FACT CHECK. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a meme are unequivocally FALSE."
It added: "Mikkelson was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. Only those who respect our laws and follow the rules will be welcomed into our country."