New Delhi: After two Indian scholars in the US faced the threat of deportation, India said on Friday (March 21) that neither had sought assistance from its missions and emphasised that Indian citizens abroad must comply with local laws.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that the Department of Homeland Security could not deport Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown postdoctoral student and Indian citizen on a J-1 visa.
Suri was detained at his home on Monday after the Trump administration deemed him “deportable” as part of its crackdown on universities that had seen protests against the Gaza war.
The US government accused him of spreading “propaganda” about Hamas, a claim his lawyer denied.
Suri is the second Indian national to face such action in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Columbia University scholar Ranjani Srinivasan was forced to leave the US for Canada after the state department revoked her student visa.
While Trump administration officials labelled her a “terrorist sympathiser”, Srinivasan maintained that her activism related to Palestine was limited to attending low-level protests and social media posts.
At a weekly media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was aware of Suri’s detention only through media reports.
“Neither the US government nor this individual has approached us or the embassy,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
On Srinivasan, Jaiswal similarly noted that he was “not aware of her getting in touch with our consulate or our embassy for any help.” He added, “We only learned of her departure from the United States through media reports, which indicate that she has gone to Canada.”
Jaiswal also reiterated that visa and immigration policies are sovereign matters and that foreign nationals must follow local laws.
“Just as we expect foreign nationals in India to abide by our laws and regulations, Indian nationals abroad must also comply with the laws of the countries they reside in,” he said.
When asked about Georgetown University’s statement that it was unaware of any illegal activity by Suri, Jaiswal said, “As I mentioned, neither the student nor the US government has contacted us. If they do, we will assess the matter and determine how best to engage.”
US media reports suggested that the move was not triggered by any activity of Suri’s but by his marriage to the daughter of a former Hamas official.
Asked whether India considers Hamas a terror group, the MEA spokesperson said, “On the other question regarding Hamas, our position on Hamas is well known to you. So I would reiterate once again … our position.”
In December 2023, the government had responded to a similar question in Parliament, noting that Hamas was not on the proscribed list.
“Designation of an organisation as terrorist is covered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and declaring any organisation as terrorist is considered as per the provisions of the Act by the relevant government departments,” the reply stated.
