Federal Judge Orders Release of Pro-Palestine Georgetown Scholar from Immigration Detention

A federal judge has ordered the release of Georgetown University scholar Badar Khan Suri from immigration detention, marking another legal victory for international students targeted by the government over their pro-Palestinian views and activism, as per Al Jazeera.

US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles issued the ruling on Wednesday, following similar decisions in recent weeks that saw the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi and Tufts University PhD candidate Rumeysa Ozturk. All three were detained by immigration authorities amid what civil rights advocates have called a politically motivated crackdown on dissent.

Khan Suri, an Indian national on a US student visa, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside his Virginia home in March. His legal team argued the arrest violated his First Amendment rights, saying he was targeted for constitutionally protected speech criticizing Israeli policies and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

Speaking outside the courthouse in Arlington, Virginia, Khan Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, a Palestinian American, thanked the dozens of supporters who had gathered to protest his detention.

“I thank everyone who came out to support the cause of truth-telling, speaking up, and standing for Palestinian rights,” she said.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously accused Khan Suri on social media of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism,” and pointed to his marriage to the daughter of a former Hamas adviser. However, attorneys representing him, including Nermeen Arastu of CUNY School of Law, noted that these accusations have not been formally presented in court.

“The court today pointed out that the government is throwing around accusations on social media, but not presenting them in the formal courtroom setting,” Arastu told reporters. “Due process means understanding the allegations against you — and that simply hasn’t happened.”

Although Khan Suri is expected to be released soon from a Texas detention facility, his legal fight is far from over. He still faces deportation proceedings, along with a separate case challenging the legality of his arrest and detention.

His detention came amid an escalating campaign by the Trump administration to target visa holders and permanent residents over their pro-Palestine activism. The administration has invoked a little-known clause of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act allowing deportation of non-citizens deemed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign consequences.” Critics argue the provision is being interpreted overly broadly to suppress dissent.

In a similar case, a federal judge recently ruled that Columbia student Mahmoud Kahlil could be deported based on unproven claims that he participated in “anti-Semitic” protests, despite a lack of supporting evidence from top US diplomats.