A postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University faces deportation after being arrested by Department of Homeland Security agents on Monday evening outside his Virginia residence.
According to Breitbart, Badar Khan Suri, who was studying and teaching on a student visa, was detained by DHS agents for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda and maintaining connections with a senior Hamas advisor.
The arrest has ignited controversy over the extent of Suri's alleged ties to Hamas. His lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination based on his wife's Palestinian heritage. However, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin revealed that Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist serving as a senior advisor to Hamas.
Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, has previously worked for Al Jazeera and faces allegations of Hamas connections. Her father, Ahmed Yousef, served as a senior political adviser to Hamas leadership and founded the United Association for Studies and Research, which maintained ties to Georgetown University's Alwaleed Center, where Suri worked.
The United Association for Studies and Research operated in the United States from 1989 to 2004. The organization was established by Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and functioned as a front for Hamas activities, including propaganda and fundraising efforts in the United States.
Conservative commentator Marina Medvin questioned Georgetown's relationship with the think tank, highlighting deeper institutional connections to Hamas-affiliated organizations. She expressed concern about the university's employment practices at the Alwaleed Center.
The university issued a statement defending Suri's academic credentials and visa status. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin shared on X:
Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Suri has close connections to a known or suspect terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. The Secretary of State issued a determination on March 15, 2025 that Suri's activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i).
Georgetown University maintains they were unaware of any illegal activities. In their statement, they emphasized:
Dr. Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention. We support our community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly.
President Donald Trump's January executive order emphasizes protecting U.S. citizens from individuals who might exploit immigration laws for malicious purposes. The order specifically targets those who may threaten national security or espouse harmful ideologies.
The policy requires thorough screening during the visa issuance process. It aims to identify potential threats before individuals enter the United States or while they remain in the country.
These measures reflect broader efforts to prevent the entry of individuals who might harbor hostile attitudes toward American citizens, culture, government, or founding principles.
Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral associate, was arrested by DHS agents on Monday evening following allegations of spreading Hamas propaganda and maintaining connections with terrorist organizations. The case highlights tensions between national security concerns and academic freedom, as Georgetown University defends their community member while federal authorities pursue deportation proceedings.
Suri remains in custody at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, awaiting transfer to Texas, where his case will be adjudicated according to immigration law and recent executive orders on national security.
