Badar Khan Suri Released From Immigration Detention Following Federal Judge Ruling
Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar who was one among the U.S. visa holders targeted by the Trump administration for a pro-Palestine stance, was released from immigration detention on Wednesday following a federal judge’s ruling.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles had come shortly after two other prominent students targeted for deportation, Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi and Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, were ordered for release.
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Badar Khan will now peacefully go home to his family while he awaits the outcome of the petition he had filed against the Trump administration for wrongful arrest and detention in violation of the First Amendment and other constitutional rights, reports AP.
After his release from the detention facility, Badar’s wife Mapheze Saleh thanked supporters who had demonstrated outside the facility. She further added, “Justice delayed is justice denied. It took two months, but I’m extremely thankful that finally I’m free.”
U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in Alexandria, Virginia, said she was releasing Khan Suri because she felt he had substantial constitutional claims against the Trump administration. “Speech regarding the conflict there and opposing Israel’s military campaign is likely protected political speech,” Giles said. “And thus he was likely engaging in protected speech,” judge added.
Meanwhile, some critics had accused the Trump administration for targeting him based on his family ties. His wife is the daughter of Ahmed Yousef, a former advisor to assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who left his position with the armed group more than a decade ago.
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Saleh said at the court that when she spoke to her husband from the detention centre in Texas, “He told me if my suffering in the detention centre is because I married a Palestinian and because I spoke out against the genocide in Gaza, then I should wear it as a badge of honour.”
Khan Suri was arrested by masked, plain-clothed officers on the evening of March 17 outside his complex in Virginia. He was then later taken to detention camps.
