A U.S. court has prevented the Donald Trump administration from deporting Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University, who was recently detained by immigration authorities.
Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, has been studying and teaching in the U.S. on a student visa.
Following his detention, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Suri of promoting Hamas propaganda and having close links to a suspected terrorist. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, stated on X that Suri was “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media”, and he had ties to a senior Hamas adviser.
Suri’s attorney denied the allegations, asserting that the researcher was being targeted because of his wife’s Palestinian identity and her right to free speech.
A U.S. court ruled that Suri “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court issues a contrary order.”
Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, expressed how the detention has disrupted their lives, adding that their children are in desperate need of their father and miss him deeply. She also highlighted her need for his support as a mother of three.
Georgetown University confirmed that Suri had been granted a visa to continue his research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His detention comes amidst an increasing number of investigations by U.S. immigration authorities into students and academics in recent weeks.
