A US federal judge on Thursday ordered immigration officials to halt the deportation of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University scholar detained by the Trump administration over allegations of spreading Hamas propaganda on social media.
US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles issued the ruling in Alexandria, Virginia, preventing Suri’s removal from the country while legal proceedings continue. The Indian national was arrested earlier this week outside his home in Virginia, sparking a legal battle over free speech and immigration enforcement.
Detention Sparks Free Speech Concerns
Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, argued in court filings that his detention was politically motivated, citing his social media posts about the Israel-Gaza war and his wife’s Palestinian heritage. Ahmad stated that federal authorities failed to provide evidence linking Suri to any criminal activity.
“Dr. Suri is an academic, not an activist,” Ahmad said, emphasizing that his client’s work at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding focuses on peacebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Suri was taken into custody Monday night by masked agents outside his home, where he lives with his wife and three children. His wife, Mapheze Saleh, said in court that they have long been targets of online harassment and accusations of ties to Hamas.
Government Cites Security Concerns
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the decision, stating that Suri was found deportable by the State Department due to concerns over pro-Hamas content on his social media.
The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has been reviewing federal contracts and scrutinizing noncitizen academics for alleged anti-U.S. activities.
Suri’s legal team has filed a habeas motion to secure his immediate release and challenge the revocation of his visa. His detention in Louisiana, more than 1,000 miles from his family, is being viewed as a form of retaliation, his lawyers argued.
Wider Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Voices
Suri’s case is one of several recent high-profile detentions linked to pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S. Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil and Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a former Rhode Island-based kidney specialist, have also faced deportation for their alleged involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) condemned Suri’s detention, calling it a violation of free speech rights. “This is yet another example of President Trump’s attack on the First Amendment,” he said.
Georgetown University has backed Suri, emphasizing its commitment to academic freedom and calling for a fair legal process.
The case now heads to court, where Suri’s fate and its broader implications for immigration enforcement and free speech in academia will be closely watched.