Wed Mar 19 23:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Indian Postdoctoral Student Arrested in US on Allegations of Hamas Ties
**Washington, D.C.** – A postdoctoral student from India, Badar Khan Suri, has been arrested in Virginia on allegations of having ties to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group. The arrest, made by federal agents on Monday, followed the revocation of Suri’s student visa by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, stated that Suri was allegedly engaged in pro-Hamas activities at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he was pursuing his postdoctoral studies. McLaughlin further alleged that Suri had close connections with several individuals within the terrorist organization.
Suri, who entered the US on a student visa, has challenged his arrest in immigration court. He claims he has no criminal record and suggests his arrest is due to his wife’s Palestinian heritage.
Georgetown University released a statement acknowledging Suri’s status as a doctoral researcher but expressing ignorance of any illegal activities or the reasons behind his arrest. The university stated its full support for an open and fair trial.
This arrest comes amidst a backdrop of increased scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism on US college campuses. The Trump administration previously cracked down on protests supporting Palestine, resulting in the arrest of approximately 2,000 students in the past year. A similar incident saw the DHS revoke the visa of another Indian student, Ranjani Srinivasan, for supporting pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, effectively forcing her self-deportation. The details surrounding the exact nature of Suri’s alleged activities remain unclear pending further investigation and court proceedings.
First Piper 