Academic Deportations under New Administration Raise Concerns
Several scholars targeted for deportation amid an immigration crackdown, citing connections to pro-Palestinian activism and alleged foreign policy threats.
Why Are Visa and Green-Card Holders Being Detained and Deported?
New York Magazine
Georgetown student detained by ICE, had student visa revoked
Washington Examiner
Overview
The Trump administration is actively deporting scholars, including Georgetown University's Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow arrested on Hamas-related allegations. Suri's visa was revoked, sparking claims of political targeting due to his Palestinian American wife. Similarly, Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil faces deportation for leading pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University physician, was deported despite a court order. Federal authorities utilize a Cold War-era law to justify these actions, indicating a chilling effect on academic freedom and dissenting political views. Experts warn of increasing targeting of accomplished academics amid broader immigration enforcement.
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Analysis
- Concerns arise regarding the use of outdated immigration laws by the Trump administration to justify the deportation of academics critical of U.S. foreign policy, highlighting a worrying trend in targeting individuals based on their political speech.
- Georgetown University and other institutional allies assert that those affected, including Badar Khan Suri and Mahmoud Khalil, have not engaged in any illegal activities, emphasizing their right to free expression and academic inquiry.
- Recent cases, such as that of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, reveal alarming instances where legal scholars and professionals are being deported despite valid visas, raising serious questions about the due process in immigration enforcement under the current administration.
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NBC News·3M·FAQ
Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was detained due to allegations by the US Department of Homeland Security that he spread pro-Hamas propaganda and antisemitism on social media. However, no direct evidence supporting these claims has been cited.
The Trump administration justifies these deportations by accusing scholars like Mahmoud Khalil of supporting Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US. However, Khalil's legal team has denied any such connections.
These deportations are seen as having a chilling effect on academic freedom and dissenting political views. Experts warn that the targeting of accomplished academics could undermine the freedom to engage in political activism and scholarly work.
The Trump administration utilizes a Cold War-era law to justify these deportations, though specific details on which law are not provided in the available sources.
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