Thu Mar 20 06:51:39 UTC 2025: ## Indian Researcher Detained in US, Accused of Hamas Ties
**Washington, D.C. – March 20, 2025** – Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, is facing deportation from the United States after being detained by immigration authorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges Suri spread Hamas propaganda and antisemitic content on social media and maintains close connections to a senior Hamas advisor. These claims, which lack publicly available evidence, led to the revocation of his student visa.
Suri’s legal team has filed a writ of habeas corpus, arguing his detention is illegal and potentially linked to his wife’s Palestinian heritage and their advocacy for Palestinian rights. His wife, a U.S. citizen, is also a graduate student at Georgetown.
The case has sparked concern among civil rights groups who allege the detention violates First Amendment rights and represents a broader targeting of individuals based on their political views. The timing coincides with President Trump’s efforts to deport individuals involved in pro-Palestinian protests following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. These measures have drawn criticism from civil rights and immigrant advocacy organizations. Suri is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana. His legal team continues to fight for his release.
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