Georgetown Researcher Badar Khan Suri Detained Over Alleged Hamas Ties

Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was detained by immigration agents on March 17, 2025, prompting allegations that he is being targeted for his wife’s Palestinian identity and their critical views on U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel. The Department of Homeland Security claims Suri is deportable for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda, although these allegations have been denied by his attorney, who argues that Suri's detention violates his rights to free speech and due process. Suri is currently being held in a Louisiana detention facility, over 1,000 miles from his family, which his lawyer contends is a punitive measure. Legal actions are underway to challenge his deportation, with Georgetown University expressing support for Suri’s academic rights. This case is part of a broader trend of targeting activists critical of U.S. policies, as seen in the recent detention of other scholars and students. Suri's legal team is seeking his immediate release while disputing the claims made against him.