Harvard University Issues Travel Warning To International Students Amid Rising US Scrutiny

In a growing tensions between US immigration officials and Harvard University has released a warning notice to its international students asking them to exercise caution in their social media usage and cautions for taking a flight into Boston Logan International Airport.

According to the Bloomberg reports, the advisor came after a recent preliminary legal win for Harvard in its ongoing battle against Trump-era restrictions on admitting international students. During a closed-door call with students, university officials outlined growing concerns about increased checks and digital surveillance faced by visa holders at US borders.

Social Media posts and device checks under watch

According to the briefing, Harvard warned that US immigration authorities now have broader discretion to review applicants’ digital presence. The State Department can examine social media profiles during visa screenings, and Customs and Border Protection officers are authorised to inspect electronic devices like phones and laptops at ports of entry.

Students were told that certain content, such as pro-Palestinian posts, remarks viewed as antisemitic, or critical opinions about the United States could potentially raise red flags. Even prior minor legal incidents could be held against them. Importantly, officials advised against wiping or erasing devices before travel, noting that such actions could increase suspicion.

Individual caution for Chinese & Iranian students pursuing STEM majors

As per the Bloomber reports, the university also called for additional vigilance on the part of students from China and Iran, particularly those who are studying STEM fields and artificial intelligence.

Jason Corral, a staff attorney at Harvard’s immigration and refugee clinic, specifically advised Iranian students to avoid Logan Airport, citing previous incidents. While no airport has officially been deemed safer, airports like New York’s JFK, Chicago’s O’Hare, and Los Angeles International were mentioned as preferable alternatives by some participants in the briefing.

A growing dispute between Harvard and the federal government serves as the backdrop for all of this. Under the Trump administration, the university's tax-exempt status has even been threatened, and it has lost more than $2.6 billion in research funding, as reported by Bloomberg. While the initial dispute was tied to accusations of antisemitism, it has since broadened to include political bias and affirmative action.

Despite the legal back-and-forth, it’s still unclear whether students at Harvard are being treated any differently than those at other American institutions.The court's preliminary injunction that presently upholds Harvard's authority to admit overseas students is being appealed by the federal government.

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