Georgetown Scholar Detained Over Alleged Hamas Ties Faces Deportation

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian-origin academic, remains in ICE custody as legal challenges raise concerns about academic freedom and political motivations.

Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, was arrested on March 17, 2025, outside his Virginia home by federal agents.
The Department of Homeland Security accuses Suri of spreading pro-Hamas propaganda, promoting antisemitic views, and having ties to a senior Hamas advisor.
Suri's student visa was revoked following a determination by the US Secretary of State that his activities rendered him deportable under immigration law.
His legal team has filed a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that his detention may be influenced by his wife's Palestinian heritage and their support for Palestinian rights.
The case has drawn attention from civil rights groups, raising concerns about potential violations of First Amendment protections and academic freedom.