Georgetown University Scholar Detained, Facing Deportation Amidst Allegations of Hamas Propaganda
Georgetown University is urgently seeking clarity regarding the detention of one of its researchers, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national, by the administration of President Donald Trump. Suri faces potential deportation after being deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy, according to his legal representation.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Suri is being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to allegations of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media." McLaughlin further claimed that Suri has "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas."
The DHS spokesperson added that the Secretary of State had issued a determination on March 15, 2025, asserting that Suri’s activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i), a provision related to potential threats to foreign policy.
In response, a Georgetown University spokesperson released a statement to USA TODAY, clarifying that Khan Suri entered the U.S. to "continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan." The university spokesperson emphasized, "We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention."
The university’s statement continued, "We support our community members rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly."
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Suri’s lawyer disclosed that Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a U.S. citizen. According to Georgetown University’s website, Saleh hails from Gaza and has written for Al Jazeera and various Palestinian media outlets. She has also worked with the foreign ministry in Gaza. The lawyer confirmed that Saleh has not been arrested.
USA TODAY contacted ICE and Homeland Security officials for comment on Thursday but had yet to receive a response at the time of reporting.
A petition for Khan Suri’s release was filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Named as respondents in the petition are President Trump and several members of his cabinet, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and various ICE officials.
According to the petition obtained by Politico, masked DHS agents apprehended Khan Suri outside his residence in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday night. The agents, while identifying themselves, informed the postdoctoral fellow that the government had revoked his visa, as stated in the court document.
The petition reveals that the government is employing the same provision of immigration law to deport Khan Suri that it previously used in an attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder who spearheaded pro-Palestinian protests on campus. This provision grants the Secretary of State the authority to deport noncitizens if their presence in the U.S. is deemed a threat to foreign policy.
Khan Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, expressed concern to Reuters, stating, "If an accomplished scholar who focuses on conflict resolution is whom the government decides is bad for foreign policy, then perhaps the problem is with the government, not the scholar."
USA TODAY also reached out to Hassan Ahmad for comment on Thursday but had not received a response.
Ahmad asserted in the petition that his client is being unjustly punished due to his wife, a U.S. citizen, being of Palestinian descent. The government purportedly believes that Khan Suri and his wife, who they allege also have "ties with Hamas," are opposed to U.S. foreign policy toward Israel.
"We’re trying to speak with him. That hasn’t happened yet," Ahmad told Politico on Wednesday. "This is just another example of our government abducting people the same way they abducted Khalil."
Khan Suri’s case unfolds against the backdrop of President Trump’s ongoing mass deportation campaign, which has faced resistance from numerous judges.
"Were not stopping," declared Trump’s "border czar," Tom Homan, in an interview with Fox News this week. "I dont care what the judges think. I dont care what the left thinks. Were coming."
The unfolding legal battle raises significant questions about academic freedom, the scope of government authority in immigration matters, and potential biases in the application of national security laws. The case is being closely watched by civil rights advocates and academic institutions, who are concerned about the potential chilling effect on scholarly inquiry and freedom of expression.
The government’s reliance on social media posts and alleged connections to individuals associated with Hamas as justification for deportation is likely to be heavily scrutinized in court. Suri’s legal team is expected to argue that the government’s actions are based on unsubstantiated claims and represent an overreach of executive power. The case also underscores the challenges faced by individuals with ties to conflict zones, who may be subject to heightened scrutiny and suspicion by immigration authorities.
