Indian Georgetown University Student Detained In US For Alleged Hamas Propaganda, Antisemitism On Social Media

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student at Georgetown University, has been detained by US authorities over allegations of spreading pro-Hamas propaganda and antisemitism on social media. The Trump administration is now seeking to deport him, claiming he poses a threat to US foreign policy, according to his lawyer.

Suri was arrested by federal agents outside his home in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Monday night and is currently being held in Alexandria, Louisiana, awaiting an immigration court hearing. His lawyer noted that the Department of Homeland Security has not provided clear evidence to support its accusations. A statement shared by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio deemed Suri's activities as grounds for deportation.

Georgetown University has expressed concern over Suri's detention, stating that it has not been given a formal explanation for his arrest and is unaware of any illegal activity on his part.

Who is Badar Khan Suri?

Suri, who holds a student visa, is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. This semester, he has been teaching a class on "Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia." He holds a PhD in peace and conflict studies from an Indian university.

Suri is married to Mapheze Saleh, a US citizen originally from Gaza. Saleh has written for Al Jazeera and other Palestinian media outlets and has previously worked with the foreign affairs ministry in Gaza.

Trump Administration's Crackdown on Campus Protests

The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism, often labeling such protests as antisemitic. The White House has been reviewing university funding, claiming that some institutions have failed to protect Jewish students from harassment. Schools under scrutiny include Columbia University, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University.

Earlier this month, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was also arrested and faces deportation for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration has accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, though his lawyers strongly deny any connection, stating that he is being targeted for his activism.

As Suri awaits his hearing, his case has drawn attention to the broader debate over free speech, student activism, and the limits of political expression on college campuses.