The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reminded Indian students in the US to follow American laws. This statement comes after one Indian researcher was detained and another student moved to Canada.
No Help Sought from Indian Missions
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that neither of the two individuals reached out to Indian embassies for assistance.
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US authorities detained Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, on Monday night. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of “actively spreading Hamas propaganda” and having links to the Palestinian armed group. However, a US federal judge stopped his deportation.
Meanwhile, Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia University PhD student, left for Canada after her visa was revoked. US officials accused her of “advocating for violence and terrorism” and supporting Hamas.
India’s Stand on Visa and Immigration Policies
Jaiswal assured that Indian embassies in the US are ready to assist students in need. However, he emphasized that visa and immigration decisions belong to each country’s jurisdiction.
“Every country has the right to decide its own visa and immigration policies,” he stated. “When foreigners visit India, we expect them to follow our laws. Likewise, Indian nationals abroad must respect local rules.”
No Official Contact from Suri or Srinivasan
Jaiswal clarified that India learned about Suri’s detention through media reports. Neither the US government nor Suri himself contacted the Indian embassy.
Regarding Srinivasan, he said the Indian side had no communication with her. The government only found out about her departure from news reports.
US Authorities’ Claims Against Srinivasan
According to the DHS, Srinivasan entered the US on an F-1 student visa for her PhD in Urban Planning at Columbia University. US officials accused her of supporting Hamas.
They revoked her visa on March 5. On March 11, she used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport to Canada.
Strengthening India-US Educational Ties
Jaiswal highlighted the strong educational connections between India and the US. He stressed that India wants to expand these ties further.
“Indian students’ enrollment in US universities is an important part of our relationship,” he said. “We are committed to strengthening this knowledge partnership.”
