Thu Mar 20 21:56:19 UTC 2025: ## Georgetown Scholar Detained, Faces Deportation: Judge Halts Removal Pending Court Ruling
**Alexandria, Virginia – March 21, 2025** – A federal judge has intervened to prevent the deportation of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar, after his arrest by Department of Homeland Security agents. Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles issued an order temporarily blocking Suri’s removal from the United States pending a court ruling.
Suri, an Indian citizen, was arrested outside his Virginia home on Monday. His lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, alleges the arrest was politically motivated, citing Suri’s wife’s Palestinian identity and her outspoken views. The court filing claims the couple has been the target of online doxxing and smear campaigns highlighting Saleh’s previous employment with Al Jazeera and her Gaza City birthplace, linking her to Hamas.
While Suri’s wife’s father, Ahmed Yousef, a former Hamas advisor, confirmed his son-in-law’s arrest, he denied Suri’s involvement in any political activism, including on behalf of Hamas. Yousef himself has publicly criticized the October 7th attack on Israel. Professor Nader Hashemi of Georgetown University, who directs the Alwaleed Center where Suri is a fellow, corroborated this, stating Suri was primarily focused on his research and was not outwardly political.
The Alwaleed Center issued a statement condemning Suri’s arrest, alleging it’s part of a Trump administration campaign to suppress dissent in academia. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin later stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Suri was deemed deportable for “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media,” though Suri’s lawyer argues no evidence supports these claims.
Suri’s detention in Louisiana, over 1,600 km from his family and lawyer, is considered retaliatory by his legal team. They argue his detention violates his free speech and due process rights. Suri’s case is not isolated; other pro-Palestinian activists, including a Columbia University student and a kidney specialist, have also faced similar deportation efforts recently.
Georgetown University stated it is unaware of Suri engaging in any illegal activity and supports his right to free inquiry. Representative Don Beyer called the detention illegal, denouncing it as an attack on the First Amendment. Suri’s lawyers are seeking his immediate release and a halt to deportation proceedings. The case is now before the court.
First Piper 