The last week has been difficult for Dr. Samira Asgari. She had packed her bags, moved out of her flat, said goodbye to her friends and was on her way to Harvard to continue her genomics research. At least that is what she thought. Last Saturday she arrived at Frankfort airport, ready to board a flight to Boston in the U.S., only to be told she couldn’t board.

Then early on 29 January 2017, two Massachusetts Judges issued a Temporary Restraining Order providing immediate protection to holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas, like Dr. Asgari who was travelling on a J-1 visa. The order granted holders of such visas legal authority to enter the U.S. Based on this Order, Dr. Asgari decided to try again, and booked a ticket on Swiss from Zurich to Boston. Again she was told she could not board.

• Swiss threatened over Iranian researcher (Le News)

Dr. Asgari decided to contest the actions of US Customs and Border Protection. On 1 February 2017, she and her lawyers filed a complaint at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Today she tried again. According to Swiss broadcaster RTS, she was able to board a Lufthansa flight from Frankfort to Boston, scheduled to land at 18:44 UTC.

Later this evening, several Tweets showed her safe arrival at Boston Logan airport.

Iranian #Harvard scientist Samira Asgari arrives in Boston after 3x barred: “I’m still shaking” @thecrimson pic.twitter.com/FnPAEt6zPS

— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) February 3, 2017

Hannah Natason Tweeted: Samira Asgari has landed in Boston and made it through security.

Another Tweet shows the welcoming party that awaited the young doctor, who had been studying at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Member of Iranian #Harvard affiliate Samira Asgari’s lab await her arrival in BOS after she was twice denied entry to the US @thecrimson pic.twitter.com/gzmGSpHfAZ

— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) February 3, 2017

According to the Harvard Crimson, Harvard has joined seven other higher education institutions in filing an amicus brief challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

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