Sat Mar 15 07:40:22 UTC 2025: ## Indian Student Self-Deports After US Revokes Visa Over Palestine Protest Allegations

**NEW YORK, March 12, 2025** – Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia University doctoral student from India, has self-deported from the United States following the revocation of their student visa. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges Srinivasan participated in pro-Palestine protests that involved advocating violence and terrorism.

The DHS stated that Srinivasan’s visa was revoked on March 5th for activities supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Video footage obtained by DHS reportedly shows Srinivasan using a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app to self-deport on March 11th.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the self-deportation on X (formerly Twitter), stating that advocating violence and terrorism forfeits the privilege of a US visa. Secretary Noem also shared a short video clip of Srinivasan at the airport.

Srinivasan, who uses they/them pronouns, is a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Their research focused on land-labor relations in India. Srinivasan holds a Bachelor’s degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad and a Master’s degree from Harvard University. Prior to their studies at Columbia, they worked for an environmental advocacy non-profit and as a researcher at MIT.

Srinivasan’s self-deportation follows a growing debate surrounding the limitations of free speech and protest within the context of US immigration policy. The incident has sparked discussions about the balance between protecting national security and upholding academic freedom.

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