Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri was released from immigration detention on Wednesday after a federal judge ruled he was unlawfully held. The academic, who was arrested on March 17 near his Virginia home, was targeted under the Trump administration's initiative against university activists advocating for Palestinian causes. As an Indian national on a student visa, Suri faced accusations of promoting Hamas propaganda and having connections with a suspected terrorist through his wife, Mapheze Saleh.
US authorities claimed Suri posed a threat by allegedly supporting terrorist activities due to his family ties in Gaza. However, US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles dismissed these claims, emphasizing in her ruling that there was no substantial evidence linking Suri to Hamas. She stated that his detention infringed upon his rights to free speech and due process.
Saleh, a US citizen, defended her husband, highlighting her father's previous role as a political advisor in Gaza and his efforts towards peace initiatives after leaving government service. "My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude hearing the judge's words," she expressed through a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is representing Suri.
Despite the judge's decision, the Trump administration is still pursuing deportation proceedings against him, according to ACLU officials. Suri is one of several academics under scrutiny for their pro-Palestinian activism and comments in recent weeks. This heightened environment of fear among students was amplified by recent arrests, including that of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, accused of facilitating terrorist connections.
Suri's release comes on the heels of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk’s recent bail approval after facing similar detention actions related to Hamas support allegations. The series of arrests has sparked concern and anxiety within universities about the treatment of foreign students and their advocacy on sensitive political issues.
