Georgetown Researcher Detained by Immigration Authorities
A researcher from Georgetown University studying and teaching on a student visa has been detained by federal immigration officials amid the Trump administration’s increased scrutiny of student activists alleged to oppose U.S. foreign policy, according to legal documents.
Details of the Arrest
Masked agents apprehended Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, outside his residence in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, on Monday night, as reported by his lawyer in ongoing litigation for his release. The agents, identifying themselves as part of the Department of Homeland Security, informed him that his visa had been revoked.
Legal Proceedings and Visa Revocation
Suri’s legal petition indicates he was placed in deportation proceedings under a rarely utilized provision of immigration law, which allows the Secretary of State to expel noncitizens if their presence is deemed a threat to foreign policy. This is similar to the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student facing deportation for leading pro-Palestinian protests.
Claims of Political Targeting
The petition asserts that Suri is being targeted due to his wife’s Palestinian heritage—she is a U.S. citizen—and the government’s suspicion of their opposition to U.S. policy regarding Israel. It further claims that the couple has faced online harassment from far-right websites due to their advocacy for Palestinian rights. Additionally, Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, has been accused of having links to Hamas and previously worked for Al Jazeera.
Government Response
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a decision on Saturday to cancel Suri’s visa for reasons related to foreign policy. McLaughlin alleged that Suri was involved in spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism online.
Legal Support and Challenges Ahead
Suri’s lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, mentioned that he had been unable to contact Suri as of Wednesday evening, expressing concerns about the government’s actions. Suri’s case is seen as part of a broader trend of immigration arrests under the Trump administration, which claims to target “terrorist sympathizers.” Advocates argue this infringes on the First Amendment rights of noncitizens expressing their political beliefs.
Georgetown University’s Position
According to his faculty page, Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown, where he teaches a course on “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia.” A Georgetown spokesperson affirmed that Suri was granted a visa for his doctoral research on peacebuilding, noting their unawareness of any illegal activities on his part. They expressed hopes for fair adjudication of the case by the legal system.
