Harvard’s Important Advice for International Students: Why You Should Rethink Your Arrival at Boston Airport

BOSTON— Harvard University is advising its international students to steer clear of Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). The reason? There has been an uptick in scrutiny from U.S. border officials. Instead, students are encouraged to consider entering through other airports, like New York’s JFK, Chicago O’Hare (ORD), or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

This advisory follows a call between Harvard’s legal and immigration teams and students. They discussed a recent legal injunction that prevents the government from limiting the university’s enrollment of foreign nationals. The conversation highlighted travel risks, particularly for students from countries like Iran and China, who are in sensitive research fields.

Maureen Martin, Director of Immigration Services, and attorney Jason Corral informed students about increased concerns at U.S. ports of entry. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may inspect digital devices and even evaluate travelers’ social media activity. If they find online content considered critical of the U.S. or tied to sensitive political issues, entry could be denied. Attempts to erase digital traces could also raise suspicions during inspections.

Logan Airport specifically was flagged as high-risk, especially for students from Iran. While no official data supports the risks at BOS, cases like that of Kseniia Petrova—a Harvard researcher detained after returning from France—illustrate these concerns. Petrova faced accusations of smuggling biological material and endured months of legal challenges after her interrogation.

Students, especially those from high-risk countries, have reported more intensive questioning and secondary screenings at Logan. Recent statistics show that Iranian students have been disproportionately singled out for these heightened security measures. The National Institute of Health, in a recent study, noted a 30% increase in scrutiny for international researchers traveling to the U.S. compared to previous years.

While Logan isn’t officially banned, the call made it clear that alternatives are recommended. Anecdotal evidence suggests that JFK, ORD, and LAX result in smoother entry experiences, even if there’s no official data backing this up.

Political factors play a role, too. The Trump administration had targeted Harvard with criticism, accusing the university of being elitist and threatening its research funding. The current political climate raises questions about whether this scrutiny is part of a broader federal trend or isolated to certain institutions.

As international travel and policies continue to evolve, students must remain vigilant and informed. The landscape of entry procedures can shift rapidly based on political climates and institutional pressures.

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