Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, has been detained by the US immigration authorities and is facing potential deportation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accuses Suri of actively disseminating "pro-Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitic views' on social media. Furthermore, DHS also asserted that he has close ties to an individual identified as a senior advisor to Hamas.
These allegations have resulted in the revocation of Suri's student visa and his subsequent detention. As per reports, the US authorities are pursuing his deportation over concerns related to national security and foreign policy.
Who Is Badar Khan Suri?
Badar Khan Suri is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University's Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC. He earned his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia's Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution in New Delhi in 2020. His doctoral dissertation, titled "Transitional Democracy, Divided Societies and Prospects for Peace: A Study of State Building in Afghanistan and Iraq," explored the challenges of fostering democracy in ethnically diverse societies and the complexities of state-building initiatives.
Have a look at his last X post here:
Suri, who holds a student visa, was recently detained by federal authorities outside his residence in Rosslyn, Virginia. He is currently being held in Alexandria, Louisiana, awaiting his immigration court hearing, as per a report by Reuters.
Legal Challenges Against Suri
Suri's legal team has filed a writ of habeas corpus, contesting the legitimacy of his detention. The petition argues that his arrest may be influenced by his wife's Palestinian background and their vocal support for Palestinian rights.
His wife, Mapheze Saleh, a US citizen from Gaza, is currently a first-year graduate student at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.
The case has drawn attention from civil rights organisations, raising concerns about potential violations of First Amendment protections. As per reports, several advocates have warned that targeting individuals based on political beliefs could set a concerning precedent for academic freedom and free speech rights in the US.
Current Status On Suri's Detention
As of Wednesday, March 19, Suri remains in an ICE detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, while his legal team challenges the basis of his detention and the allegations against him.
His case unfolds amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian protests following Israel’s response to the October 2023 Hamas attack. These actions have sparked criticism from civil rights and immigrant groups, who argue the administration is targeting dissenting voices.
