The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasized that Indian students in the United States must comply with American laws, following the detention of a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University and the self-deportation of another student to Canada.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on Friday that neither individual sought assistance from Indian missions in the US.
Visa Revocations and Deportation Cases
Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., was detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday night over allegations of “actively spreading Hamas propaganda.” However, a US federal judge has blocked his deportation.
This incident follows the case of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University, who self-deported to Canada after her visa was revoked. She was accused of “advocating for violence and terrorism” and participating in activities supporting Hamas.
MEA’s Response
Addressing media inquiries, Jaiswal reiterated that visa and immigration policies fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of respective nations and must be adhered to.
“When it comes to visa and immigration policy, it is something that lies within the sovereign functions of a country,” Jaiswal said. “Just as we expect foreign nationals in India to follow our laws, Indian nationals abroad must also comply with local regulations.”
On Suri’s detention, Jaiswal noted that the Indian government has only learned about the situation through media reports. “Neither the US government nor this individual has approached us or the embassy,” he said.
Regarding Srinivasan’s case, Jaiswal stated that Indian authorities were not contacted for assistance. “We only came to know of her departure from the US from media reports… We understand that she has gone to Canada,” he added.
US Authorities’ Claims
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Srinivasan, who was enrolled as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University under an F-1 visa, was allegedly “involved in activities supporting” Hamas.
Her visa was revoked by the Department of State on March 5, and DHS reportedly obtained video evidence of her using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11.
India-US Educational Ties
Despite these incidents, Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening educational ties with the US, noting that a significant number of Indian students pursue higher education in American institutions.
“The knowledge partnership and participation of our students in US universities is an important element of our relationship, and we want to foster these ties further,” he said.