Breaking News: Indian Researcher Arrested in the US, Faces Deportation
An Indian researcher, who was studying at Georgetown University in the US, has been arrested by immigration officers and is at risk of deportation, as per his lawyer. Badar Khan Suri, a post-doctoral fellow, was taken into custody by “masked agents” outside his residence in Virginia on Monday night, as reported by Politico.
Immigration Officers Revoke Visa
The agents, who claimed to be from the Department of Homeland Security, informed Suri that his visa had been revoked by the government, according to the lawsuit filed.
Suri has been accused of allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda and having connections to a suspected terrorist.
“Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary Department of Homeland Security.
She added, “Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. The Secretary of State made a determination on March 15, 2025, that Suri’s activities and presence in the US made him deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i).”
Legal Battle Ensues
Suri’s lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, argued that his client is being targeted due to the Palestinian heritage of his wife, who is a US citizen. The lawyer claimed that Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a first-year student at Georgetown University, hailing from Gaza.
Georgetown University issued a statement in support of Suri, mentioning that he was granted a visa to further his research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. The university expressed its belief in fair legal proceedings and the right to free speech and debate.
Who is Badar Khan Suri?
Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. He is an interdisciplinary scholar with a focus on religion, violence, peace, and conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia.
Suri completed his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, in 2020.
Indians Facing Deportation in the US
This incident comes after Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian student at Columbia University, self-deported following the revocation of her visa for participating in pro-Palestine protests. The US Department of State cancelled her visa citing security concerns related to alleged activities supporting Hamas.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem referred to Srinivasan as a “terrorist sympathiser” and emphasized that individuals advocating terrorism and violence should not be allowed to remain in the US.
