US Court Halts Deportation of Indian Academic Badar Khan Suri Over Alleged Hamas Links
A US court has blocked the deportation of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national detained over alleged ties to Hamas, amid a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism under the Trump administration.
On March 20, 2025, a US court ordered that Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order.” The decision came after his detention by immigration authorities earlier this week.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Suri of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated on X that Suri has “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, a senior adviser to Hamas.”
Suri’s legal team refuted the allegations, arguing in a court filing that he is being targeted due to his wife’s Palestinian identity and her protected speech. They emphasized that Suri, an Indian citizen on a student visa, has committed no crimes.
Mapheze Saleh, Suri’s wife and a US citizen, expressed the family’s distress, saying, “This detention has completely upended our lives. Our children are in desperate need of their father and miss him dearly.” She highlighted the emotional toll on their three children.
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A Georgetown University spokesperson confirmed Suri’s lawful status, stating, “He was granted a visa to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The university noted it has no evidence of illegal activity by Suri.
Suri’s detention follows similar actions against academics and students. Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil was arrested on March 8 for pro-Palestinian protests, while Leqaa Kordia faced charges for overstaying her visa, and Ranjani Srinivasan opted to self-deport.
Suri remains in custody, awaiting further court proceedings to determine his fate. The case highlights ongoing tensions between US immigration policies and academic freedom, with potential implications for other detained individuals.
