Federal immigration authorities have detained Badar Khan Suri, a graduate student from India teaching at Georgetown University on a student visa. Suri was arrested outside his home in Virginia and informed that his visa had been revoked. The exact reason for his detention is unclear, but Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has accused Suri of spreading Hamas propaganda and having connections to terrorism. He is currently being held in Louisiana awaiting an immigration hearing.
Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and has traveled extensively in conflict zones. His research focuses on religion, violence, and peace in the Middle East and South Asia. Georgetown University has stated that they are not aware of any wrongdoing on Suri’s part and support his right to academic inquiry.
The Trump administration has recently targeted other student activists, such as Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Palestinian woman Leqaa Kordia, for deportation. Khalil, who participated in protests against Israel, was temporarily blocked from being deported by a judge. Suri’s lawyer has filed a petition in federal court to challenge the lawfulness of his detainment.
Critics, including Suri’s lawyer, have condemned the government’s actions as unjust and an infringement on academic freedom. The situation has raised concerns about the targeting of scholars and activists for their political beliefs. Georgetown University has called for a fair adjudication of Suri’s case and emphasized the importance of open debate and discussion within its academic community.
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