Washington, DC: A researcher from Georgetown University, who is on a student visa and conducting research in Virginia, has been detained by US federal immigration authorities, as reported by Politico. This incident occurs during the Trump administration's intensified efforts against student activists whom the government claims are critical of US foreign policy, according to court documents cited by Politico.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, was arrested by masked agents outside his residence in Arlington's Rosslyn neighborhood on Monday night, as stated by his attorney in a lawsuit seeking his prompt release.
The lawsuit claims that the agents, identifying themselves as members of the US Department of Homeland Security, informed Suri that his visa had been revoked. The legal petition for his release indicates that he has been placed in deportation proceedings under a specific immigration law provision that the US government has also used to attempt the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
This provision allows the US Secretary of State to deport non-citizens if it is determined that their presence poses a threat to the nation's foreign policy. The petition asserts that Suri has no criminal history and has not been charged with any offenses, as reported by Politico.
Suri's attorney argues that he is facing repercussions because his wife, a US citizen of Palestinian descent, is suspected by the government of opposing US foreign policy regarding Israel. The petition further states that the couple has been "doxxed and smeared" on extremist websites due to their advocacy for Palestinian rights. It also mentions that Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, has been falsely accused of having "ties with Hamas" and previously worked for Al Jazeera.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a decision on Saturday to revoke Suri's visa for reasons related to foreign policy.
In a statement on X, McLaughlin explained, "Suri, a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University, has been actively disseminating Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. He has established close ties with a known or suspected terrorist who serves as a senior advisor to Hamas. On March 15, 2025, the Secretary of State determined that Suri's actions and presence in the United States made him subject to deportation under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i)."
Suri's detention marks the latest in a series of immigration-related arrests that President Donald Trump claims are just beginning to escalate. Trump stated that these arrests are aimed at "terrorist sympathizers" or individuals involved in "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activities."
Supporters of the detainees have accused Trump of infringing upon the First Amendment by retaliating against non-citizens, including those legally residing in the country, based on their political beliefs and freedom of speech, as reported by Politico.
Suri's legal case was submitted to federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday. By Wednesday evening, the case had not yet been assigned to any judges, and the court had not taken any action. According to Suri's petition, Badar Khan Suri was moved to a facility in Virginia and is anticipated to be transferred to a detention center in Texas shortly.
