The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University, whose visa was revoked over allegations of supporting Hamas, has voluntarily left the country. The student used the CBP One app to facilitate her self-deportation following the visa cancellation, which was triggered by national security concerns.
Who is Ranjani Srinivasan?
Ranjani Srinivasan is an Indian national who was pursuing a doctoral degree in Urban Planning at Columbia University on an F-1 student visa. According to DHS, Srinivasan was involved in activities deemed supportive of Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
A Fulbright scholar, Srinivasan has an impressive academic background. She holds an M.Phil in Urban Planning from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), a Master’s in Design from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) from CEPT University in India. Her NYU Wagner bio highlights her research on land-labor relations in peri-urban towns in India, focusing on the political economy of development and labor sociology.
Why was Srinivasan’s visa revoked?
The US Department of State revoked Srinivasan’s visa on March 5, 2025. DHS confirmed that she self-deported using the CBP One app on March 11, 2025. A video of her departure was also obtained as part of the process.
Commenting on the case, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated: “It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked. I’m glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP One app to self-deport.”