Columbia Student Ranjani Srinivasan's Escape: Last-Minute Flight, Cat Left Behind

Ranjani Srinivasan never imagined she would have to leave behind everything she had built in the United States-the academic career she worked so hard for, the life she had established, and even her beloved cat. But when federal immigration agents started showing up at her door, she knew she had no choice.

A Fulbright scholar from India and a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University, 37-year-old Srinivasan had recently discovered that her student visa had been revoked. The news came suddenly, with no clear explanation. On March 5, she received an email from the US Consulate in Chennai informing her of the cancellation. Confused and alarmed, she turned to Columbia's international student office for help. But just two days later, immigration agents were already searching for her.

"The atmosphere seemed so volatile and dangerous," she later told The New York Times. Fearing for her safety, she made a quick and heartbreaking decision-she would leave the country immediately. She left her apartment, packed only what she could carry, and entrusted her cat to a friend. Then, she booked a last-minute flight to Canada, hoping to find refuge.

Reports suggest that her visa was revoked as part of a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests, with authorities accusing her-without evidence-of having ties to violent groups. The sudden turn of events left her shaken.

"I'm fearful that even the smallest political speech or social media post can turn into a nightmare," she said. Her story is one of fear, uncertainty, and the reality of living under a system where everything can change in an instant.