Department of Homeland Security(DHS) clarifies the fact that their agents did not deny entry to an American man because of the meme of the bald vice president J.D. Vance, contrary to reports. Rather, it was because he admitted to previously using illegal drugs—which the tourist says was merely marijuana in legal jurisdictions.
Mads Mikkelsen, a British actor who was born in New Jersey, had his entry denied at an entry port earlier this month. It made headlines around the world because, when he showed a Vance meme on his phone to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents (CBP), it was claimed that he had been turned away for political reasons.
DHS & CBP has refuted this claim by sharing Tuesday posts that counter the reported claims.
“FACT CHECK. DHS declared that claims Mads Mikkelsen had been denied entry for a meme was FALSE. Mikkelsen’s entry to the U.S. was denied because he admitted using drugs. “Only those who follow our rules and respect our laws will be welcome into our country.”
Mikkelsen told Norwegian newspaper Nordlys that he confessed to having used cannabis in Mexico, Germany and Norway after being questioned.
It’s legal everywhere, so to my mind this was not relevant. “It’s a legal substance where it was taken—just like alcohol.”
The Norwegian claimed that the document that explained his denial contained at least 2 falsehoods. First, it stated that he was a Spanish citizen, but he has never been to Spain. Second, he claimed to have possessed a real pipe when he entered the country, but CBP only found a picture of one on his mobile.
The department has a valid reason for refusing the visitor, even though marijuana is still federally illegal.
Mikkelsen may have smoked marijuana before, though it’s unclear when. According to CBP, candidates for work are ineligible if, three years after their initial application, they used any controlled substance, such as cannabis.
The latest controversy surrounding cannabis involves DHS and CBP.
DHS and CBP asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by licensed New Mexico marijuana companies who claim that agencies are seizing marijuana products regulated by state law and holding industry employees at checkpoints in the interior.
The lawsuit was filed by eight New Mexico marijuana business representatives against the federal Government in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico last October. That action came months after initial reports emerged of CBP agents increasingly taking cannabis products and other assets from state licensees at border checkpoints throughout the state.
Some members of Congress were also interested in the controversy. For example, Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) sought to amend appropriations legislation covering DHS by explicitly preventing U.S. border patrol agents from using funds to seize marijuana from state-licensed businesses.
Last April, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) could be heard saying on a leaked recording that she was “offended” when the secretary of the DHS reacted to her concern about the recent surge in CBP seizures of marijuana from legal operators in her state by saying, “Who cares? “They make a ton of money.”
CBP told MEDCAN24 in 2013 that “even though medical and recreational marijuana is legal in many U.S. States as well as Canada, it remains illegal to sell, possess, produce and distribute marijuana, or facilitate the aforementioned, due to the Schedule I classification of marijuana,” a CBP representative said. CBP spokesperson told MEDCAN24 last year that individuals found violating the Controlled Substances Act while crossing the Border, at the U.S. ports of entry or Border Patrol checkpoints may be inadmissible, subject to seizure and/or fines and/or arrested.
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Philip Steffan is the photographer.