Detention of Badar Khan Suri: A Controversial Case Amid U.S. Immigration Crackdowns
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian researcher from Georgetown University, was detained by U.S. immigration authorities for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda. The Trump administration seeks his deportation, citing concerns about his impact on U.S. foreign policy. Suri’s case is part of a broader crackdown on student activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian researcher affiliated with Georgetown University, has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities. The Trump administration is pursuing his deportation, considering him a threat to U.S. foreign policy, according to his attorney who spoke with Reuters on March 19. Suri was arrested in Alexandria, Louisiana, and awaits a hearing in immigration court.
Living in the United States on a student visa, Suri is married to American citizen Mapheze Saleh, who hails from Gaza. He works as a postdoctoral fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown, teaching a course on “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia”. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in peace and conflict studies from an Indian institution.
The Politico report indicates that Suri’s detention follows a pattern wherein federal authorities target student activists accused of opposing U.S. foreign policy. Saleh, his wife, is not under arrest, and has contributed to Al Jazeera and has been involved with the foreign ministry in Gaza.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims that Suri has associations with Hamas, alleging he disseminated Hamas propaganda and antisemitic content on social media. They assert that he has connections to a senior Hamas advisor and cite a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which labels Suri as deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i), although no concrete evidence has been disclosed.
This situation marks another instance in a series of deportations initiated under the Trump administration, targeting individuals involved in pro-Palestinian protests following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Similar cases of targeted deportations have included Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student arrested for his activism.
In conclusion, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, has been detained under serious allegations linking him to Hamas. The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, is pursuing his deportation, which reflects a greater trend of targeting student activists involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. As this case unfolds, it raises significant questions regarding academic freedom and civil rights in the context of U.S. immigration policy.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
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