Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri has been released from a Texas detention center following a federal judge's ruling that upheld his rights to free speech and due process. Suri, who had previously studied under a student visa, was arrested outside his Virginia home by immigration agents on March 17, part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on activists within higher education.
His arrest was tied to his support for Palestinian rights and alleged connections deemed suspicious by US authorities, who accused him of "spreading Hamas propaganda." However, US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles determined that the government provided insufficient evidence linking him to any terrorist activities. She noted in her ruling that claims of his ties to Hamas through his wife were unsubstantiated.
Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, stressed their family history of promoting peace, highlighting her father's long-standing role in the US and his shift toward conflict resolution efforts. "Hearing the judge's words brought tears to my eyes," she expressed, yearning to reunite with her husband and emphasize the legitimacy of advocating for Palestinian issues.
The Trump administration is still pursuing separate deportation proceedings against Suri, as scrutiny of pro-Palestinian advocates continues at US colleges. In tandem, Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was also recently released on bail after being arrested in Massachusetts for similar charges. The ongoing situation raises significant questions about the balance of free speech and immigration enforcement in the US.
