Harvard University has advised its international students to exercise caution while using social media and to reconsider flying into Boston’s Logan International Airport due to intensified scrutiny at US entry points, according to a Bloomberg report.
This guidance follows a recent preliminary legal victory for Harvard against the Trump administration’s move to restrict the university’s ability to enroll international students. In a private call hosted by university officials, students were briefed on the increased risks they may face during travel and visa screening.
Monitoring of social media and digital devices
According to the report, Harvard officials warned that US State Department personnel can review social media activity of student visa applicants, and US Customs and Border Protection has the authority to inspect electronic devices at the border. Students may be denied entry based on what is found on their phones or laptops.
While it’s unclear whether the screening is done manually or with artificial intelligence, the university reportedly told students that certain content, such as pro-Palestinian messages, antisemitic remarks, or posts critical of the US, could be flagged as problematic. Even minor prior interactions with law enforcement were mentioned as potential red flags.
The university cautioned that attempting to erase or wipe devices before travel could trigger further suspicion from border agents, according to the report. These warnings were shared with students who attended the call, which was hosted by Maureen Martin, Director of Immigration Services at Harvard, and Jason Corral, a staff attorney at the university’s immigration and refugee clinic.
Specific warning for Iranian and Chinese students in STEM and AI Fields
During the same briefing, Harvard staff recommended that international students from Iran and China, particularly those enrolled in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and artificial intelligence programmes, should be extra cautious during their travel to the United States, according to Bloomberg. These students are considered more likely to face heightened scrutiny at ports of entry.
Jason Corral advised Iranian students, in particular, to avoid Logan Airport due to previous incidents and instead opt for other major airports such as New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport. He stated that while there is not enough conclusive evidence to rank airports by safety, JFK, Chicago’s O’Hare, and Los Angeles International Airport were perceived by some attendees as safer alternatives to Boston, according to the report. “At this time there is not enough evidence to say definitively that any airport is better or worse,” Corral was quoted by Bloomberg.
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Case of Russian researcher detained at Boston-Logan airport
The increased caution follows the case of Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard researcher originally from Russia, who was detained at Logan Airport earlier this year. According to Bloomberg, Petrova was stopped by immigration authorities in February upon returning from France. She was accused of smuggling frog embryos into the US and spent four months in federal detention before being released on bail in June. She was later indicted on further charges.
Broader tensions between Harvard and the federal government
The advisory to students comes amid broader political tensions between Harvard and the federal government. According to the Bloomberg report, the Trump administration has increasingly targeted Harvard as part of its efforts to reshape US higher education.
The administration has already revoked over $2.6 billion in research funding for the university and has threatened to strip it of its tax-exempt status. Initial accusations centered on claims that the university tolerated antisemitism, but the scope has since widened to include criticisms of political bias and affirmative action in admissions and hiring.
Despite these developments, Bloomberg reports that it remains unclear whether students at Harvard are being treated differently from those at other institutions. The federal government is currently appealing the preliminary injunction that temporarily protects Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, keeping the situation fluid and uncertain for both students and administrators.
