In a significant legal victory, a U.S. federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Indian scholar Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two months. Dr. Suri, affiliated with the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, was arrested in March 2025 over his pro-Palestine social media posts and familial ties to a former Hamas advisor, reported the Al Jazeera.
The Trump administration had revoked his J-1 visa, citing national security concerns. His arrest, carried out outside his home on March 17, sparked widespread outrage. He was secretly transported across three states and held in five ICE facilities before landing in a Texas detention center, where he endured harsh conditions during the holy month of Ramadan—including being denied food and water to break his fast.
Dr. Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, emotionally reacted to the court’s ruling, saying, “Speaking out about what’s happening in Palestine is not a crime.” She added that her children had been longing every day to see their father.
Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Virginia and the Center for Constitutional Rights, condemned the Trump administration’s move as an unconstitutional attack on free speech and academic freedom. “Ideas are not illegal,” stated Eden Heilman, Legal Director at ACLU of Virginia.
Federal courts have recently sided against similar detentions, including those of Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi and Tufts PhD candidate Rümeysa Öztürk. The ruling marks a growing pushback against the administration’s efforts to punish dissent against U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Dr. Suri’s immigration hearing is still pending in Texas, with the next session scheduled for June 3. He continues to challenge his arrest under the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution, supported by a coalition of legal advocacy groups.
“The administration’s misuse of immigration laws to suppress protected speech is a chilling precedent,” said Nermeen Arastu of CUNY School of Law. “Dr. Suri’s release is a triumph for justice, but also a reminder of how fragile our rights can be.”
