Freshman Previously Denied Entry to the United States Arrives at Harvard

[hlthe2b]

No comment indicated from Trump's Stephen Miller-directed ICE troopers though, but it does seem they bent to pressure--likely from some very wealthy Republican Alumn Donors

Link to tweet

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/3/harvard-student-turned-away-arrives/

Harvard freshman Ismail B. Ajjawi ’23, who United States border officials turned away ten days ago, arrived on campus Monday in time for the start of classes Tuesday. Ajjawi’s family issued a statement Monday through his lawyer thanking those who voiced support for him and assisted his arrival.
--snip--

Immigration officers barred Ajjawi from entering the United States after he spent eight hours in Boston Logan International Airport on Aug. 23. Ajjawi, a 17-year-old resident of Tyre, Lebanon told The Crimson last week that a Customs and Border Protection officer searched his phone and laptop while he was detained at the airport.

Ajjawi alleged that officer questioned him for hours about posts his friends made on social media and eventually informed him that his visa would be canceled. The officer also allegedly asked him questions about his religious practices in Lebanon. Shortly after Ajjawi returned to Lebanon, Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Michael S. McCarthy wrote in a statement that officials had “deemed [him] inadmissible.” McCarthy did not specify the reason for the decision.

Ajjawi’s immigration difficulties sparked outcry from Harvard student groups, several of which organized a petition supporting him that has garnered more than 7,000 signatures as of Monday night. Ajjawi's story has also drawn international media attention and elicited statements of support from several organizations including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Staff from both Harvard and AMIDEAST, a scholarship organization sponsoring Ajjawi’s education, worked with federal officials to ensure he could matriculate on time.

[hlthe2b]

1. I wonder if he had not had the clout of Harvard behind him, if he would have had a chance...

This is so insane--monitoring other's social media, even when the individual himself posted nothing similar nor favored any such posts... Orwell come to life.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Any 'friend' of Trump could be banned if they applied the same standards strictly

ie they know someone who says various things against the US constitution, and has a suspected affiliation to a non-friendly rival state.