A federal judge in Virginia has ordered the immediate release of Georgetown academic Badar Khan Suri from Ice detention, following his two-month detention under the Trump administration’s targeting of individuals engaged in pro-Palestinian activism. US district judge Patricia Giles ruled in Alexandria, Virginia, for Khan Suri’s release with no conditions or bond required. The Trump administration had detained Khan Suri, a citizen of India, on March 17, alleging that his father-in-law had ties to Hamas officials and citing his social media posts in support of Palestine as reasons for his detention and visa revocation.

Khan Suri, married to a Palestinian American US citizen and a senior postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, faced deportation threats which were halted by Giles in March following an emergency court request by his wife. The academic’s detention sparked support from many Georgetown students and alumni who signed a letter opposing his treatment by Ice. This case highlights the intersection of academic freedom, activism, and immigration policy, shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals engaged in social and political causes deemed controversial by the government. The court’s decision to release Khan Suri underscores the ongoing legal battles and activism surrounding immigration and civil liberties in the United States.