Harvard University has issued a warning to its international students about heightened scrutiny at U.S. airports and the growing risk of social media content affecting visa approval or entry.
In a private call held on July 3 by Harvard’s international office and the Harvard Law School immigration support group, students were told to be extra cautious about what they post online and how they travel, especially amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration.
Harvard staff explained that U.S. officials can inspect social media accounts and electronic devices during the visa process or at the border. Posts that are pro-Palestinian, anti-Semitic, or critical of the U.S. may raise red flags. Even minor legal issues in a student’s past could result in denied entry.
Avoid Boston’s Logan Airport, Harvard Advises
The university specifically advised some students, particularly Iranians and Chinese nationals in STEM or AI fields, to avoid flying into Boston’s Logan International Airport. Instead, airports like New York’s JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and LAX were suggested as safer alternatives.
One case that may have influenced this guidance is that of Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard researcher who was detained for months after U.S. border officials at Logan accused her of smuggling frog embryos. She was later released on bail but still faces federal charges.
Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Harvard
Harvard’s warnings come as it continues a legal battle with the Trump administration, which recently tried to block international student enrollment at the university. While Harvard won a temporary injunction, the administration is appealing. It has also revoked $2.6 billion in research funding and threatened the school’s tax-exempt status.
Though it’s unclear if other universities are facing the same level of scrutiny, Harvard has become a central focus of the administration’s push to reshape higher education, including attacks on its diversity efforts and claims of political bias.
The university has declined to comment officially, but the message to students is clear: Be cautious, stay informed, and plan travel wisely.
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