A federal judge has halted the deportation of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, who was detained by immigration authorities as part of the Trump administration's recent actions targeting academics.
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordered that Suri "shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order."
Suri, an Indian national working as a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown, was arrested outside his Virginia home on March 17 by masked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. The government revoked his student visa, citing alleged "close connections" to a Hamas official and claims he was "spreading Hamas propaganda."
Georgetown University confirmed Suri obtained his visa to conduct doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. The university stated they were "not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity" and had received no explanation for his detention.
Suri's attorneys filed legal challenges immediately after his arrest, arguing the detention violated his due process rights. They contend the administration targeted him based on protected speech regarding Israel and Gaza, as well as his wife's Palestinian background.
The researcher lives in Rosslyn, Virginia with his wife Mapheze Saleh, a U.S. citizen, and their three children. His attorneys say he has no criminal record and faces no criminal charges.
This case follows other recent immigration enforcement actions on college campuses, including the March 8 arrest of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
DHS maintains that Suri was "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media" and had connections to a suspected Hamas advisor. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined Suri was deportable under immigration law.
The judge's order prevents Suri's removal while legal proceedings continue. He is currently being held at a detention facility in Louisiana, though his lawyers are seeking his return to Virginia.