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338
US officials forced to share bald JD Vance meme by denying tourist’s claim he was denied entry over photo (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) by babysandpiper@sopuli.xyz to c/politics@lemmy.world
34 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme

The story circulating online — first in Norwegian newspaper Nordlys and then picked up by British tabloids — claims that during Mikkelsen's encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, agents took his phone and found a meme depicting Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance.

Mikkelsen claims that the officials threatened to fine him $5,000 or send him to prison for five years if he refused to provide them with his phone password. The tourist ultimately agreed to hand over his information, allowing agents to look through his phone.

The reports picked up enough steam in headlines and on social media to justify CBP putting out a statement denying parts of the story.

top 34 comments
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[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 11 points 2 hours ago

Just a reminder for anyone travelling to the US (or any other totalitarian regime that doesn’t respect right to privacy).

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/how-to-safeguard-your-phone-when-entering-the-us-5-essential-security-tips

I can’t remember the combination of buttons you need to hold down on your iPhone to disable biometric unlocking and to force erase your phone.

Anyone else remember these, and know the equivalent combination for Android devices, please comment.

Keeping multiple devices is the easiest way to get by. Have a burner phone for everyday use when travelling and keep your main phone either at home, or locked and unpowered in your luggage.

[–] cyborganism@piefed.ca 99 points 4 hours ago (4 children)

Wait... Lemme (ha!) get this straight...

If they want to search your phone or any electronic device when entering the US and you refuse, you get fined 5000$ and get a 5 years prison sentence?????

They don't just deny you entry and send you back?

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 94 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

They lied and no one cares apparently

[–] drdalek@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 hour ago

The CBP is basically an unchained lunatic with a credit card and access to unthinkable networks of treachery. We are no longer living in a time when these rules matter. Judges order are explicitly being ignored, and the Supreme Court is batting away any attempt to even disarm the lunatic.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago

You're lucky if you don't get disappeared to a Central American gulag.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 37 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

After the agents looked through his phone, he said he was denied entry to the United States and was sent back to Norway.

People keep acting like this is new, it's been like this since 9/11...

If they "suspect" someone, they don't want to just let them walk away if they're right.

So if you don't comply, they assume the worse and detain you and throw some trumped up charges about obstructing. But they don't even have to do that, they literally can (and likely have) ship you straight to Gitmo for life. Hell, cops even make these kinds of threats to US citizens during traffic stops. Law enforcement has been able to just make wild threats to get people to comply for like, forever

Silver lining at least, people are finally realizing this is an insane process and hopefully it's one of the things we get to fix.

Because we sure as shit can't just spend four years discussing if we need to limit all these govermental powers that have been racking up again. If we get the chance to fix shit we have to actually fix it.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 30 points 4 hours ago

People keep acting like this is new, it's been like this since 9/11...

Haha, man. People have already forgotten that these were temporary measures after 9/11

[–] nao@sh.itjust.works 24 points 4 hours ago

Don't bring your regular phone when traveling to countries like China or the US

[–] BeBopaLula@piefed.ca 61 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Moral of the story: Do not go anywhere near the states. It is a fascist country and they will deport you to el salvador lickety-split.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 17 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

This is the sad part. My favorite uncle had a special connection to hanauma bay near Waikiki, but my mom can't go there and remember him smiling and laughing and teaching my cousin to swim. We are all afraid that even us whiteboy Canucks will get separated in customs and never be seen again. And we're wipepo from the most polite country on earth!

It's almost assured that, after this term, if Hawaii hasn't separated yet, that she'll be too old to travel $afely. She's getting a little fuddy now, in that she brings it up often, and tells me again for the first time about Uncle's love of Hawaii and h bay ... every time.

Trump's people are dicks

[–] BeBopaLula@piefed.ca 5 points 2 hours ago

Yes. If there are friends or family there maybe they could do a video call and walk around her favourite areas?

At this point it does not matter if you are white, pink, orange, brown, aquamarine or Oakville 70’s fuchsia. These vile asshats are drunk with power and are deporting people faster than the up and down of a hookers knickers at a convention.

Not worth anyone’s safety at this point. Being wiped from existence is a fact now in the states. Be safe.

[–] Headofthebored@lemmy.world 32 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

The fact that meme bothers them is hilarious though. Imagine a protest at the Capitol with a huge crowd all carrying big signs with nothing but that meme on it. 😂

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 16 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

People keep writing words on posters like fascist can't help but read something they see...

Their brains aren't even recognizing it's text.

But pictures of their leaders edited to exacerbate their worst physical features?

That hits them where it hurts.

[–] evenglow@lemmy.world 14 points 3 hours ago

This is why weird worked

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 9 points 4 hours ago

I don't suppose anyone here has a link to a high(ish) resolution version of it? Asking for a friend.

[–] SoupBrick@pawb.social 41 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

Time skip 10 years in the future

History Channel: Memes in American History

[–] OldManBOMBIN@lemmy.world 9 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

🫲Aliens🫱

[–] TachyonTele@piefed.social 3 points 2 hours ago

"couches"

[–] Quacksalber@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 hours ago

Come next election cycle, there needs to be a reckoning. Not only does Trump and many of his appointees go to prison, it also needs to be investigated how so many bureaucrats and officers are so willing to do Trump's bidding. Unless those people are removed too, Trump 2.0 is going to happen.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 18 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

So is there any legal requirement for this photo to be achieved forever? I would love to know a copy is always on government file if need be.

[–] evenglow@lemmy.world 10 points 3 hours ago

Library of Congress. Get some politician to show it in Congress. On the record.

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 8 points 3 hours ago

Preload some Joe Biden memes for express processing.

[–] nkat2112@sh.itjust.works 17 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

Is there a correlation of what's going on here with a concept referred to as the Streisand Effect? Or does that not apply?

Edit: I guess not since they were likely not trying to spread this meme, but rather, make an example of someone who laughs at Couch Guyliner memes. Still, all the same, it would be hilarious if this incident causes people to follow this visitor's example.

[–] evenglow@lemmy.world 6 points 3 hours ago

Guess what my phone's wallpaper is now when I travel?

[–] DirkMcCallahan@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

I can't wait for people to start using this photo Rickroll-style.

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Anyone have the meme in question?

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It is the thumbnail of the article.

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I was wondering if it had text to it? How funny it was? Or if it was just the picture, like you shared...?...

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Like this...

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 hour ago

Eric Cartman as an adult

[–] CatDogL0ver@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

That's why I pretend to be Canadian when I travel overseas. I put tiny Canadian flags on my luggage and phone. I tell people I am from Vancouver.

[–] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

That’s about as cool as pretending to be any other culture.

But it’s ok for Americans somehow to fake being from a different culture to not be looked down on.

[–] CatDogL0ver@lemmy.world 1 points 35 seconds ago

Yeah, I definitely understand if my fellow Americans pretending to be our Northern neighbours when travelling overseas.

We aren't not that popular. Only Russians like us.