Indian student Badar Khan Suri, studying at Georgetown University in Washington, has been detained by the Trump administration over alleged links to Hamas and accusations of spreading its propaganda on social media, according to Fox News, citing a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
The administration is reportedly seeking his deportation, arguing that he poses a threat to U.S. foreign policy, his lawyer stated. Suri is currently being held in Alexandria, Louisiana, awaiting an immigration court hearing. Federal agents arrested him outside his residence in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Monday night.
The DHS statement, shared by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, did not provide specific evidence to support the allegations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that Suri’s actions warranted his deportation. Additionally, the Georgetown student is accused of promoting antisemitic views online.
Georgetown University has stated that it has not been given an official reason for Suri’s detention and is unaware of any illegal activity on his part.
Who is Badar Khan Suri?
Suri, an Indian national on a student visa, is married to Mapheze Saleh, a U.S. citizen. He is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding within the university’s School of Foreign Service.
According to the university’s website, Saleh is originally from Gaza and has contributed to media outlets such as Al Jazeera and Palestinian publications. She has also worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza.
Suri holds a PhD in peace and conflict studies from an Indian university and has been teaching a course titled “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia.”
Trump Administration’s Crackdown on ‘Antisemitism’
The Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism, often labeling it as antisemitic. Officials have accused protesters of denying the legitimacy of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The White House is also reviewing funding for universities, alleging that some institutions have failed to protect Jewish students from harassment by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Schools under investigation include Columbia University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University.
Earlier this month, federal authorities arrested Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, citing his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The government is attempting to deport him, though Khalil is fighting his detention in court. Trump has alleged, without evidence, that Khalil supports Hamas, while Khalil’s lawyers insist he has no ties to the organization, which the U.S. designates as a foreign terrorist group.
