US Judge Halts Deportation of Indian Scholar Badar Khan Suri Amid Allegations of Hamas Links:

On Thursday, a U.S. federal judge temporarily halted the deportation of Indian-origin academic Badar Khan Suri, who was recently detained over alleged ties to Hamas. Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that Suri “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court issues a contrary order,” according to AFP.

Suri, a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University, was arrested on March 17 outside his Virginia home by masked agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is accused of promoting Hamas propaganda and being linked to a known or suspected terrorist.

Legal Challenge and Allegations of Retaliation

Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, filed a lawsuit contesting his detention, describing it as “targeted and retaliatory.” He argued that the arrest was intended “to silence, or at the very least restrict and chill, his speech,” particularly his support for Palestinian rights.

According to the filing, Suri’s visa was revoked without notice. Ahmad claims that Suri is being targeted due to his marriage to Mapheze Saleh, a U.S. citizen of Palestinian origin. The Trump administration, the lawsuit suggests, views the couple as critical of U.S. foreign policy towards Israel.

DHS Rebuttal and Background of Allegations

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, posted on social media that Suri is a foreign exchange student “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.” She added that Suri is linked to “a known or suspected terrorist who is a senior advisor to Hamas.”

Reports indicate that Saleh’s father, Ahmed Yousef, served as a senior political adviser to Hamas leadership. While Saleh was born in Missouri, she spent much of her childhood in Gaza.

Academic Background and Research Focus

Badar Khan Suri earned his PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, focusing on state-building in conflict-affected regions like Iraq and Afghanistan. At Georgetown University, his research explores the barriers to cooperation in religiously diverse societies and methods to foster peace.

Context of Broader Deportation Actions

The case comes amid broader deportation efforts under the Trump administration. India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated that 388 Indians have been deported from the U.S. between January and March 13, 2025. Overall, 15,952 Indians have been deported since 2009, as reported in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.