New Delhi, March 22:
The Indian government has issued a clear advisory to its citizens studying in the United States, urging them to strictly adhere to American laws amid growing concerns over intensified deportation efforts under former President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on pro-Palestine campus protests.
This advisory comes after two Indian nationals, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, and Ranjini Srinivasan, a doctoral student at Columbia University, faced serious consequences from US authorities over their alleged involvement in pro-Palestine activities. While Mr. Suri was arrested on charges of spreading “Hamas propaganda,” Ms. Srinivasan had her visa revoked and opted to self-deport to Canada earlier this month.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), confirmed on Friday that neither of the two had sought assistance from Indian diplomatic missions in the US. “We have seen media reports regarding both individuals, but neither the US government nor the individuals concerned approached us or the embassy,” Mr. Jaiswal said during a weekly press briefing. He added, “We only came to know of Ms. Srinivasan’s departure to Canada through media reports.”
Mr. Suri and Ms. Srinivasan are among several academics and students affected by the US administration’s push to clamp down on pro-Palestine protests across American campuses. Former President Trump has labeled such individuals “terrorist sympathizers” and has threatened to cut funding to universities while expediting deportation proceedings against students allegedly linked to such protests.
According to reports, US authorities have moved to deport Mr. Suri, although a court has temporarily blocked his removal following arguments that his detention was influenced by his wife’s Palestinian background. Ms. Srinivasan, meanwhile, left for Canada on March 11 using a self-deportation feature in the US Customs and Border Protection mobile app, after her visa was canceled over allegations of “advocating for violence and terrorism” and for purported links to Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and Israel.
In his remarks, Mr. Jaiswal emphasized India’s expectation that its nationals abroad must comply with local regulations. “We expect that when foreign nationals come to India, they follow our laws. Likewise, Indian nationals abroad must also comply with the laws and regulations of their host country,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson further assured students that Indian consulates and embassies across the US remain available to assist them in times of distress. “If an Indian student is facing any problem, our consulate or embassy is there to help them with their well-being and safety,” he added.
Mr. Jaiswal also noted that India values its strong and growing educational ties with the US, with a significant number of Indian students enrolled across American universities. He reiterated that the Indian government is committed to supporting students facing difficulties, urging them to reach out to official channels in times of need.
The incident has sparked concern among the academic community as Trump’s hardline approach has led to fears of a wider crackdown on international students involved in political activism.
