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Palestinian Harvard Freshman Denied Entry to U.S.

HeadlineAug 28, 2019

A 17-year-old Palestinian student who was scheduled to start his freshman year at Harvard University was denied entry into the U.S. last week and had his visa revoked. Ismail Ajjawi told The Harvard Crimson he was interrogated by immigration officials upon his arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport on Friday. They reportedly questioned his religious practices and searched his phone and computer, revealing posts by friends that were critical of U.S. policy. Ajjawi, who was to attend Harvard on a full scholarship, was ultimately sent back to his home in Lebanon. PEN America’s Summer Lopez said in a statement, “The idea that Ajjawi should be prevented from taking his place at Harvard because of his own political speech would be alarming. That he should be denied this opportunity based on the speech of others is downright lawless.”

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