Indian Columbia Student Self-Deports After U.S. Visa Revoked Over Hamas Allegations

Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral student, left the U.S. for Canada after her visa was canceled for alleged ties to Hamas and participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia University PhD student from India, had her U.S. student visa revoked on March 5, 2025, over alleged support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
The Department of Homeland Security accused her of advocating violence and terrorism, though her lawyers deny the claims and say she faced no criminal convictions or university disciplinary actions.
Srinivasan used the newly launched CBP Home app to self-deport on March 11, fleeing to Canada after repeated visits from federal immigration agents to her apartment.
Her visa revocation follows President Trump's intensified crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests, including federal funding cuts to Columbia University over alleged failure to address anti-Semitic incidents.
The case has raised concerns among civil rights groups about the use of immigration enforcement to target political speech and protests on U.S. campuses.