Washington: A researcher at Georgetown University in Washington has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as part of the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to target campus activists opposing US foreign policy.
According to Anadolu Agency, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national, is in the US on a student visa. CBS News reported that Suri’s visa was issued for doctoral research focused on peacebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Georgetown University has expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons behind Suri’s detention, emphasizing that they have not been informed of any illegal activities conducted by him.
The university, based in Washington, DC, underscored its dedication to free inquiry and academic debate, calling for a fair adjudication of the case by the legal system. Meanwhile, the US Department of Homeland Security has accused Suri of promoting Hamas propaganda and antisemitism through social media platforms. Furthermore, the department alleged that Suri has “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior adviser to Hamas.”
On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Suri’s activities rendered him deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act. However, specific details regarding his arrest remain undisclosed. Suri is currently being held at an ICE detention facility located at Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana.
A writ of habeas corpus was filed on March 18, contesting his detention. This case follows the March 8 arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student legally residing in the US under a green card, who was also detained by ICE. Khalil, an Algerian national born in Syria to Palestinian parents, faced accusations of leading activities linked to Hamas.
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Khalil’s case will be adjudicated in New Jersey, rather than New York or Louisiana. Critics argue that efforts to deport Khalil may have a chilling effect on freedom of speech for all residents in America, irrespective of citizenship status.