An incoming freshman at Harvard University was deported to Lebanon after U.S. Custom and Border Protection canceled his visa over his friends' social media posts.
Teenager Deported Over Friends' Political Social Media Posts
Ismail B. Ajjawi, a 17-year-old Palestinian resident of Lebanon, arrived at the Boston Logan International Airport on Friday, Aug. 23, where he was subjected to interrogation. He said that an immigration officer asked him to unlock his devices for searches. Hours later, the same officer raised questions about his social media friends' activities.
"After the 5 hours ended, she called me into a room , and she started screaming at me," the student recounted his experience in a written statement sent to The Harvard Crimson. "She said that she found people posting political points of view that oppose the U.S. on my friend[s] list."
Ajjawi himself said that he refrained from making political posts on social media. He argued that he should not be held responsible for what other people decide to publish on their timelines
However, despite his efforts not to discuss politics on social media, he was denied entry to the United States. The teenager said that he was allowed a phone call to tell his parents the sad news.
Social Media Posts Used Against Travelers Entering The US
Unfortunately, according to Tech Crunch, Ajjawi's story is not unique. Immigration officials have been holding travelers accountable for messages, images, and videos sent by friends, families, or even strangers. People are being denied entry to the United States because of the content of their Facebook and Twitter accounts or encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Last year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection searched around 30,000 travelers' devices "without any need for suspicion." In June, the United States also began screening social media posts of visa applicant — a rule that would affect 15 million foreigners.
In a statement, Harvard University spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain assured that they are currently working to resolve Ajjawi's visa issues so he can return to the United States this week and be able to attend his classes. Ajjawi has also been on contact with the Harvard International Office Director of Immigration Services Maureen Martin.
"The University is working closely with the students' family and appropriate authorities to resolve this matter so that he can join his classmates in the coming days," Swain wrote in an e-mail.
