Agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrested Badar Khan Suri, a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University, for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda. Suri was taken into custody outside his home in Virginia on Monday evening, as reported in a lawsuit filed by his attorney, Hassan Ahmad.
Suri, who was in the U.S. on a student visa, was described by DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin as having connections to a suspected terrorist linked to Hamas. She claimed that Suri was actively promoting antisemitism on social media and that the Secretary of State determined his activities made him deportable under immigration laws.
Suri holds a position as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. His faculty page highlights his research in peacebuilding, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite this academic background, the DHS claims his online activities raised serious concerns.
Ahmad argues that Suri is being targeted due to his Palestinian heritage and the background of his wife, Mapheze Saleh, who is an American citizen. The lawsuit mentions that Saleh has been accused of having ties to Hamas and previously worked for Al Jazeera. The couple has faced online harassment and threats from far-right groups because of their support for Palestinian rights.
Reports indicate that Suri has no criminal record and has not been formally charged with any crime. However, his wife’s family connections have drawn scrutiny. Her father, Ahmed Yousef, was a senior advisor to Hamas and founded a think tank that has been described as Hamas-affiliated.
Georgetown University has stated that it is unaware of any illegal activities involving Suri and expressed its hope for a fair legal process. The university emphasized its commitment to free inquiry and debate, even on controversial topics.
Currently, Suri is being held in a facility in Virginia and is expected to be transferred to a detention center in Texas. His case has not yet been assigned to a judge. The situation has raised questions about the balance between national security and academic freedom, especially in the context of the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and terrorism in the United States.