Indian PhD student at Columbia University self-deports after US revokes visa over alleged support to Hamas

An Indian PhD student at Columbia University has left the United States after her visa was revoked over accusations of supporting Hamas and advocating violence, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on March 14.

Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral candidate in Urban Planning, departed the country on March 11 using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App, a new tool launched just a day earlier that facilitates voluntary self-deportation. DHS stated that individuals who self-deport through the app may have the opportunity to return legally in the future, whereas those who refuse face formal deportation and a permanent reentry ban.

Srinivasan had been in the US on an F-1 student visa, which was revoked by the State Department on March 5. Officials accused her of engaging in activities in support of Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organization.

“It is a privilege to live and study in the United States,” said Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security. “When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked,” Noem added.

Federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism

Srinivasan’s case is part of a broader federal crackdown on individuals and institutions allegedly linked to pro-Palestinian activities in the U.S. DHS also reported the arrest of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, for overstaying her visa after participating in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University in April 2024. Her visa had expired in January 2022.

The Trump administration has also taken action against Columbia University itself, recently revoking $400 million in federal grants and contracts. Officials cited the university’s “continued inaction” on what they described as anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students. The funding cuts are part of a broader push by the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which includes agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

President Donald Trump reaffirmed the administration’s stance, stating that universities failing to prevent illegal protests or protect Jewish students from harassment would face consequences. “Universities must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws if they want federal funding,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who has spoken out against rising campus tensions since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Campus protests and rising tensions

Columbia University has been at the center of intensifying protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Beginning in April 2024, student-led demonstrations, including encampments on the university’s West Lawn, drew national attention. The Columbia University Judicial Board responded with disciplinary measures, issuing suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions for students involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall.

In a separate development, immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and Columbia graduate, for his role in organizing campus protests against Israel. Khalil, who is of Palestinian descent, is currently detained in a Louisiana immigration facility pending further legal action.

As these events unfold, the national debate over student activism, free speech, and campus safety continues to escalate, with both government officials and protesters remaining deeply divided over the implications of these actions.