Trump Administration Blocked from Deporting Georgetown Scholar Amid Hamas Propaganda Allegations
Sarah Johnson
March 21, 2025
Brief
A federal judge blocks the deportation of Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri, accused of spreading Hamas propaganda, highlighting tensions between immigration law, national security, and academic freedom.
A federal judge has stepped in to halt the Trump administration's attempt to deport a Georgetown University scholar accused of disseminating Hamas propaganda. Judge Patricia Giles ruled that Badar Khan Suri, an Indian citizen, "shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order." This ruling throws a wrench into plans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which detained Suri on Monday in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Suri, who is in the U.S. on a student visa as a postdoctoral scholar, faces allegations of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media," according to a statement from a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official. Adding fuel to the fire, the DHS official claimed Suri has ties to a "known or suspected terrorist," a senior advisor to Hamas. However, the agency has yet to name this alleged connection.
The plot thickens with revelations from The New York Times. It reported that Suri’s wife is Palestinian American, and her father, Ahmed Yousef, is a former advisor to Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader assassinated by Israel last year in Iran. Yousef, who lives in Gaza, insists his son-in-law is innocent, stating in a voice message that Suri has not engaged in any "political activism," including activities tied to Hamas.
Yousef himself claims to have left Hamas-run government roles over a decade ago and has publicly criticized Hamas’ decision to attack Israel last October—a move that subsequently ignited the ongoing war.
On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that Suri's activities and presence in the U.S. "rendered him deportable" under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Fox News Digital reached out to Suri's attorney for comment but has not yet received a response.
The case raises questions about the intersection of immigration law, national security, and academic freedom. While DHS alleges Suri’s activities threaten U.S. interests, the scholar's connection to Hamas appears murky at best. One has to wonder: is this a genuine attempt to safeguard the nation or an overreach fueled by political motives?
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Editor's Comments
This story feels straight out of a political thriller. The accusations against Suri are serious, but the lack of concrete evidence raises eyebrows. It's almost like a ‘he said, she said’ situation, with national security hanging in the balance. Also, the timing of Secretary Rubio's determination feels suspicious—why now, and why Suri?
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