An Australian writer claims he was denied entry into the United States after being questioned about his political views and past articles supporting pro-Palestinian protests.
Alistair Kitchen, 33, flew from Melbourne to New York on June 12 to visit friends, but during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport, he says he was stopped by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer and later detained for 12 hours. He was ultimately sent back to Australia.
Kitchen alleges he was targeted because of his political beliefs, particularly his views on the Gaza conflict and his coverage of campus protests at Columbia University, where he studied between 2022 and 2024.
“I was interrogated about my beliefs on the crisis in Gaza,” he wrote in an op-ed for The Sydney Morning Herald. “I said what I believe: that the war is a tragedy in which all parties have blood on their hands, but which must end immediately. One party is dominant, and that party can stop the violence today.”
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that his political opinions were the reason for his removal, calling that claim “unequivocally false.”
According to DHS, Kitchen was denied entry because he provided false information on his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form regarding drug use. Kitchen admitted to having used marijuana while living in the U.S., including buying it legally at dispensaries in New York, where it is now permitted under state law.
During his questioning, he says he provided agents with the passcode to his phone — something he now regrets. U.S. border officials reportedly accessed and copied his phone’s contents, discovering messages and images that indicated prior drug use.
He was placed in immigration detention and then flown back to Melbourne. His phone was only returned once he landed in Australia.
While DHS did not confirm or deny whether Kitchen was asked about the Gaza conflict, a spokesperson said U.S. border protections are stronger than ever under President Donald Trump. They added that travelers who follow the rules “have nothing to fear.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) also warns travelers that the U.S. enforces strict entry laws.
“U.S. authorities have broad powers to determine whether you are admissible,” states DFAT’s SmartTraveller website. “You may be asked to show the contents of your electronic devices. Refusal can result in denial of entry.”
Providing false information or failing to demonstrate a valid reason for visiting the country can also result in being turned away, the website adds.
