Georgetown Researcher Badar Khan Suri Released from Immigration Detention

Alexandria, Virginia — Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri was released from an immigration detention center in Texas after a federal judge ordered his immediate freedom on May 14. Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, had been detained for two months following his arrest by federal agents upon returning to his home in Virginia on March 17.

U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles found that the government failed to present evidence justifying Suri’s detention, determining it violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights. Suri, who has not faced any criminal charges, expressed his relief upon release, stating, “There was no charge, there was nothing. They made a subhuman out of me.” His next immigration hearing is scheduled for June 3.

The controversy surrounding Suri’s detention stems partly from claims by the Department of Homeland Security that he was “actively spreading Hamas propaganda” and had connections to a known Hamas official. Suri’s legal team firmly denies these allegations, arguing they are rooted in retaliation for his support of Palestinian rights.

Speaking on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), attorney Sophia Gregg criticized Suri’s detention as an infringement on constitutional rights that stifles speech amid ongoing protests about the Gaza conflict. ACLU’s Virginia legal director Eden Heilman described it as an “unprecedented attack” aimed at punishing academics for their views.

Judge Giles rebuffed the government’s arguments for Suri’s detention, asserting that no evidence supported the claims against him. She emphasized that individuals should not be penalized for expressing their views on sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In her ruling, Giles remarked, “I join several other courts… that speech regarding the conflict [in Gaza] and opposing Israel’s military actions are likely protected First Amendment speech.”

Suri’s attorneys asserted that his detention was unjustified and violated due process rights. They argued that the Trump administration’s targeting of noncitizens for removal due to protected speech constitutes viewpoint discrimination. Amid these claims, Georgetown University has maintained its support for Suri, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom.

Giles ordered Suri’s release without bond, declaring he was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. His case will continue as the legal battles proceed in court.