I read a lot that it's quite like that. Free speech being selected, and any uncomfortable speech is still silenced (through scholarship not given and such). Mainly US citizens have the right to it. I doubt that a US speaker would have any problems going back, from what I know that's mostly the fear talking, as media exaggerates everything these days, on both sides. But if he's working at a university or such, there could be quite a lot of repercussions.

And as a foreign student? Or immigrant, even with green card? I'd rather stay silent, too. Luckily I don't have to got there.