Originally reported by Nettavisen.
Mads Mikkelsen (21) from Tromsø, Norway, had his dream holiday to the United States abruptly cut short when he was denied entry by U.S. immigration authorities — allegedly due to two photos found on his phone.
The incident occurred on June 11 at Newark Airport, where Mikkelsen was pulled aside by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and subjected to what he describes as an intense and humiliating interrogation. He was questioned at length about drugs and terrorism and was told to provide the password to his phone under the threat of a $5,000 fine or up to five years in prison.
Once officers accessed his device, they reportedly reacted strongly to two images: a caricature of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and a photo of a handmade wooden pipe. This discovery led to a heightened confrontation. Mikkelsen says he was subjected to a full body search, forced to give blood samples, fingerprinted, and had his face scanned. He was then held in a cell for more than five hours without food or water.
Eventually, without receiving any formal explanation, Mikkelsen was denied entry and sent back to Norway.
“I was threatened with a minimum $5,000 fine or five years in prison if I refused to give up my phone password,” Mikkelsen told Nettavisen. “When they saw the photos, things escalated quickly. It was humiliating.”
Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) has confirmed it cannot intervene in U.S. immigration decisions, emphasizing that travelers are responsible for understanding entry regulations.
Mikkelsen’s experience has left him feeling powerless and deeply humiliated. What was meant to be a long-awaited vacation ended before it even began.
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