Indian Student Self-Deports After US Revokes Visa Over Pro-Palestinian Protest
United States: Days after revoking her visa by the US authorities for participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University in the United States (US), an Indian student, Ranjani Srinivasan, self-deported herself from the country.
Self-deporting refers to voluntarily leaving the country before authorities take action, avoiding the risk of one being taken on a US military flight and sent back as illegal immigrants. Srinivasan used the recently introduced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App, which allows individuals illegally staying in the US to voluntarily leave the country, submitting their intent to self-deport. Using CBP, individuals will have the opportunity to potentially return legally in the future, instead of the permanent ban.
Read Also: Anti-Muslim Hate In US Hits Record High In 2024: Advocacy Group
Srinivasan, a PhD student in Urban Planning at Columbia, had entered the United States on an F-1 student visa. The authorities revoked her visa on March 5, accusing her of engaging in activities supporting Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that the US designated terrorist. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the self-deportation of an Indian student on Friday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of Srinivasan at the airport, and wrote, “It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I’m glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self-deport.”
It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America.
When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country.
I’m glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers… pic.twitter.com/jR2uVVKGCM
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 14, 2025
Read Also: Manpower Crisis – Israel Faces “Danger” Amidst Preparation To Resume Gaza Genocide: Report
Notably, critics have highlighted that the new US regime has curtailed freedom of speech and restricted student activism, raising concerns over campus safety against the backdrop of the increasingly polarized political views on the Israeli-Palestine issue.
Several on social media questioned the thinking process behind posting a self-deportee walking through an airport, and threatening the remaining students in the US.
Columbia University had previously grabbed headlines for the large-scale pro-Palestinian protests. During the Israeli genocidal aggression in Gaza, the university witnessed months of protests against the Jewish nation. The university has taken multiple disciplinary actions, including multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions for students.
Recently, the US government has been running after pro-Palestinian protesters and institutions, arresting and deporting several students. The US arrested another student, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian national from the West Bank,
The US also arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and graduate of Columbia University, for his role in organizing and leading protests against Israel on the campus. He is also of Palestinian descent.
