- A Georgetown University doctoral student, Badar Khan Suri, was arrested by ICE in Virginia and is facing deportation. DHS alleges he spread Hamas propaganda and has ties to a Hamas adviser.
- Suri’s attorney denies the claims of spreading propaganda, suggesting the arrest is linked in relation to his father-in-law, a former adviser to a senior Hamas official.
- DHS is using the same immigration law to deport Suri and another student, Mahmoud Khalil.
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A Georgetown University doctoral student was arrested at his home in Virginia by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and now faces deportation, according to his lawyer who spoke to several news outlets. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national studying in the U.S. on a student visa, was taken into custody during the week of March 17. He is currently being held in Alexandria, Louisiana, as he awaits his immigration court date.
DHS alleged Hamas propaganda, terror ties
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Suri of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.” She also said he has “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist who is a senior adviser to Hamas.”
Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, said his client denies all accusations. Ahmad suggested the arrest may be linked to Suri’s family ties rather than his own actions.
Suri is married to a Palestinian-American, and his father-in-law is a former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in 2024. According to The New York Times, Suri’s father-in-law confirmed the family connection but stated that Suri has not participated in political activism.
What is the legal basis for deportation?
DHS said Secretary of State Marco Rubio deemed Suri “deportable” on March 15 under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This law allows the secretary of state to remove individuals whose presence could cause “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
The same provision is also being used to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist.
How did Georgetown respond?
Georgetown University confirmed that Suri was granted a visa to conduct doctoral research on peace building in Iraq and Afghanistan. The university stated that it is not aware of any “illegal activity” involving him.
While DHS argued that the detention is a matter of national security, civil rights groups criticized the arrests of Suri and Khalil, suggesting they may violate First Amendment rights. Both students’ legal teams are actively challenging their detention and potential deportation.
