Individual from Georgetown released from immigration custody

A Georgetown University researcher and postdoctoral fellow named Badar Khan Suri was set free from a Texas detention center after being arrested due to the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress college campus activism. Suri, who is an Indian national and a student visa holder, was taken into custody on March 17 by immigration agents outside his home in Virginia. His lawyers assert that he was targeted for his pro-Palestinian speeches and his familial connections to Gaza. US authorities accuse him of spreading Hamas propaganda and having ties to terrorism. A federal district judge, Patricia Tolliver Giles, ruled in favor of Suri’s release, deeming his detention a violation of his rights to free speech and due process. Judge Giles dismissed government claims that Suri had connections to Hamas through his wife’s family. Suri’s father-in-law, a former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, has been involved with a Gaza institute focused on peace and conflict resolution. Suri’s spouse, Mapheze Saleh, a US citizen, expressed relief and gratitude, emphasizing that raising awareness about Palestine should not be considered a crime. Despite his release, Suri still faces potential deportation, and the Trump administration has recently investigated students and academics accusing them of supporting violence and terrorism.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqgl3z0qvyo