Indian Researcher at Georgetown University Detained, Faces Deportation

Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, was arrested on Wednesday and faces possible deportation following allegations from U.S. immigration authorities. Suri, who holds a student visa and conducts research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan, is accused of "spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism" on social media.

Georgetown University has stated that it is unaware of any illegal activity associated with Suri and affirmed its commitment to supporting free inquiry and debate. A university spokesperson expressed surprise at the arrest, adding that the school had not received any official reason for the action.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges that Suri maintained close ties to a senior Hamas adviser, who is considered a known or suspected terrorist by the U.S. government. On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Suri’s activities and presence in the U.S. rendered him subject to deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Suri is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. His legal team filed a writ of habeas corpus on March 18, challenging his arrest. According to CBS News, they have contacted his legal representatives for further details, yet to get more details on the arrest. 

His arrest comes with increased scrutiny of foreign scholars and students in the United States. The same legal framework was used to arrest another Indian student, Ranjani Srinivasan, who recently left the US after being accused of supporting Hamas.

Another arrest was of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, who was detained by ICE agents earlier this month for his involvement in pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations. Khalil, who holds a green card, was arrested in front of his pregnant wife and is also being held in Louisiana. DHS claims Khalil led activities aligned with Hamas, although no criminal charges have been filed.

Suri's case has brought to light the US government's broader drive on student activists and academics who criticise US foreign policy, raising has concerns about dissent suppression and the impact on academic freedom.