Harvard University has advised international students to be vigilant about their social media presence and travel arrangements due to increased scrutiny at US entry points. Concerns were raised about posts critical of the US or related to sensitive topics, particularly for students from Iran and China in STEM fields.

Harvard University officials have advised international students to be careful about their social media activity and travel plans amid heightened scrutiny at US ports of entry, Bloomberg reported.According to the report, staff from Harvard’s international office and a legal support team from Harvard Law School held a private call on Thursday to brief students following a court victory that temporarily blocks the Trump administration’s attempt to halt the university’s ability to enroll foreign students.

On the call, students were told that US State Department officials may screen visa applicants’ social media profiles, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can inspect electronic devices and deny entry based on their contents. Students who attended the call, speaking to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, said that officials highlighted concerns over posts that are pro-Palestinian, antisemitic, or critical of the US. They were also warned that clearing device history or wiping phones could raise suspicions.

The briefing was led by Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, and Jason Corral, an attorney at the law school’s immigration and refugee clinic. When contacted, Harvard’s international office declined to comment, Bloomberg said.

Students from Iran and China, especially those in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or artificial intelligence-related fields, were asked to exercise extra caution when traveling. According to the Bloomberg report, Corral told students that Iranians in particular have faced greater scrutiny at Boston Logan International Airport and recommended they instead fly into New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

While there is no confirmed data on which airports offer smoother immigration checks, several students came away from the call with the impression that JFK, Chicago’s O’Hare, and Los Angeles International Airport might be preferable to Logan, Bloomberg noted.

The briefing also referenced the case of Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born researcher at Harvard. Petrova was detained at Logan Airport in February after returning from France and accused of trying to bring frog embryos into the country. She was released on bail in June after four months in custody but faces further legal charges.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which manages Logan Airport, directed Bloomberg’s queries back to Harvard.

The university remains under pressure from the White House, which has made it a focal point in its efforts to reform higher education. As Bloomberg reported, the Trump administration has canceled over $2.6 billion in federal research funding to Harvard, challenged its tax-exempt status, and accused it of antisemitism, political bias, and problems with diversity in hiring and admissions.

It remains unclear if these measures are specific to Harvard or also affect other institutions. The administration is currently appealing the injunction that blocks its attempt to stop international student enrollment at the university.