Georgetown University Graduate Student Detained by DHS Amid Allegations of Ties to Hamas, Sparking Legal Battle and Community Support

A graduate student from India, who was teaching at Georgetown University, has been detained by federal immigration authorities, according to his attorney. The student, identified as Badar Khan Suri, was apprehended outside his residence in Arlington, Virginia, by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incident occurred on Monday night as Suri was returning to his home in Rosslyn, Virginia. The agents, who were reportedly masked, informed Suri that his student visa had been revoked.

The detention of Suri has been linked to the Trump administration’s intensified scrutiny of activists on college campuses. Court records and statements from the Department of Homeland Security suggest that Suri is alleged to have “close connections” to a Hamas official. This development has prompted legal action from Suri’s attorneys, who filed a writ of habeas corpus and a complaint in federal court in Virginia, challenging the legality of his detention.

Hassan Ahmad, Suri’s attorney, has expressed strong opposition to the detention, describing it as “beyond contemptible.” Ahmad maintains that Suri has not engaged in any wrongdoing and has emphasized the support Suri has received from the community since his arrest. Ahmad also mentioned that he had spoken with Suri on Thursday night, and Suri expressed gratitude for the backing he has received.

The case has drawn attention to the broader context of immigration enforcement and campus activism under the current administration. As legal proceedings continue, the situation underscores the complexities and challenges faced by international students navigating the U.S. immigration system.