Georgetown Jewish Community Rallies Behind Muslim Scholar Facing Deportation, Criticizes Trump Administration’s Actions

More than 130 Jewish members of the Georgetown University community have expressed their support for Badar Khan Suri, a Muslim postdoctoral scholar and professor at the institution, who has been arrested and is facing deportation. The group, which includes faculty, staff, students, and alumni, released a signed statement on Friday. They criticized the Trump administration’s actions, suggesting that Jewish identity and fears of antisemitism are being used to justify the detention and deportation of Suri and other Muslim scholars.

The statement from the Georgetown community highlights concerns about the broader implications of such deportations, suggesting that they may be part of a larger pattern of targeting Muslim individuals in academia. The signatories argue that these actions could have a chilling effect on academic freedom and the exchange of ideas, particularly for Muslim scholars and students.

In a related case, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans has ruled that the U.S. government’s determination that Mahmoud Khalil poses “adverse foreign policy consequences” is reasonable. Khalil, an activist affiliated with Columbia University, is facing deportation proceedings. The judge has allowed the Trump administration to continue its efforts to deport Khalil, although a decision on a second deportation ground, related to alleged immigration fraud, is still pending.

Khalil’s legal team has been given until April 23 to file applications for relief to prevent his deportation to Syria or Algeria. The case has drawn significant attention, with supporters arguing that the deportation efforts are politically motivated and could set a concerning precedent for other scholars and activists.