Academics are cancelling planned conferences and seminars in the US because of the risk of harassment and interrogation by immigration officials.

There have been multiple reports of intense airport interrogations, confiscated phones, and mounting visa issues for academics traveling to the US.

In response, some universities are now advising staff to wipe social media or to carry burner phones if they are seeking to enter the country.

The situation is reportedly particularly tense for those interacting with institutions such as Harvard, where relations with the White House have degraded recently.

Professor of international politics at UCD Scott Lucas said that he has heard similar stories from academics across Europe.

“A couple of weeks ago, I was in contact with academics from a high-profile UK university,” he told The Anton Savage Show.

“They recounted to me that several academics from that university - in separate incidents - had been stopped by immigration as they tried to get into the United States.

“They were questioned quite harshly at points, and they were told to hand over their mobile phones.

“Subsequent to those incidents, the university in question is now advising its staff, if they're going to the United States, to delete all social media apps from their phones or to carry burner phones.”

Burner phones worn out and for sale. Image: Charles Knowles / Alamy. 4 April 2015

Prof Lucas said he also has colleagues in Australia who are now refusing to hold conferences in the US, as they say it’s “just not worth it”.

“We're at the point now where, you know, some of my colleagues in the United States, some of them are US citizens, others are foreign nationals, just - they're looking to get out,” he said.

“They just don't know, at the very least, if they're going to be able to carry on their research freely.

“Even worse than that, especially for those who are not US citizens, whether they in fact could be under pressure from the authorities.”

'Campaign against universities'

According to Prof Lucas, he never faced harsh interrogations or had his mobile phone taken from him while entering the US under previous administrations.

“All I think you have to do is connect to the fact that the Trump administration is raising a very high-profile campaign against universities - especially certain universities - and against researchers in certain fields to realise that no, this isn’t just confirmation bias,” he said.

“This isn't just business as usual.”

Prof Lucas said it is difficult to tell if the US will suffer a lasting brain drain as a result of these actions, or if things will revert back to normal after Trump’s term ends in four years.

Main image: Businessman showing U.S. passport. Image: Kritchanut Onmang / Alamy. 19 October 2014