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Travelling to the US? You Can Be Denied Entry For Social Posts Your Friends Make!

bySwati Dubey
28th August 2019
2 minute read
While holidaying in the US or visiting relatives there is something we all love to do, getting a visa to travel to the states has never been more tricky. You gotta go through various formalities before your travel is sorted. But things just got way more difficult and this incident stands testament to the fact. Apparently, it is not just your own posts but that of your friends on social media that shall be under scrutiny!

Strange, right?

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Recently, a Palestinian teenager, Ismail Ajjawi from Lebanon who was admitted to Harvard University was traveling to the US on a study visa. He was reportedly held by immigration officers at Boston Logan International Airport. He was allegedly questioned about his religion and religious practices.

According to SBS News, the boy was later on locked in a room and a female immigration officer went through his mobile phone. She reportedly started shouting at him while pointing at a social media post that opposed the political views of USA. The teenager said that the WhatsApp post was shared by one of his friends and he has nothing to do with it.

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The US immigration officers, however, canceled his visa and deported him back to Lebanon on the next flight. Michael McCarthy, a spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection Agency said, “This individual was deemed inadmissible to the United States based on information discovered during the CBP inspection.”

US immigration has been very strict particularly over the past few years and opts for stringent background checks for people desirous of entering the country. While it is in the interests of keeping a check on terrorism, this incident is telling of how extreme the situation has come to be.
So if you have a USA trip on your travel radar, it’s time to scrutinize your Insta fam and their posts along with your Facebook and WhatsApp friends to ensure you’re all clear. Phew. Good luck!
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