Why did the Trump administration cancel the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian academic at Columbia University?
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian national and student at Columbia University, left the country voluntarily after her visa was canceled due to accusations of supporting Hamas. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ranjani Srinivasan, who was involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University in the United States, has departed from the country.
On Friday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem shared a video on X that seemingly depicts Ranjani Srinivasan at LaGuardia Airport with a suitcase. There are reports that the department has made public footage of Ranjani Srinivasan seemingly at an airport, rushing down a jetway while carrying her luggage. She is said to have left on Tuesday, according to a report from The Washington Times, referring to the Department of Homeland Security's statement. Her visa was revoked by the State Department the previous week.
Additionally, the US Justice Department is investigating if Columbia University was hiding “illegal immigrants” on its campus, as indicated by one of its senior officials on Friday, amid the Trump administration's increased efforts to deport individuals who took part in pro-Palestinian protests at the university the prior year, as reported by the Associated Press.
On Thursday evening, officials from the Department of Homeland Security executed a warrant to search two university dormitories. Although no arrests were made and it remained unclear who they were looking for, by Friday afternoon, US officials announced new information regarding two individuals of interest connected to the protests.
Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral candidate from India at Columbia University, departed the US via an airline after having her visa canceled by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, a Palestinian woman apprehended during the protests at the university last April was detained by federal immigration officials in Newark, New Jersey, for allegedly overstaying her visa.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, addressing the Justice Department, stated this was part of the president's “campaign to eliminate antisemitism in the nation.”
President Donald Trump and various officials have labeled the demonstrators as being "pro-Hamas," referring to the militant group responsible for the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The situation on Columbia University’s campus has escalated following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist involved in leading last spring’s protests. A news release stated, “On March 5, 2025, the Department of State canceled her visa.” It continued, “The Department of Homeland Security has obtained video evidence of her using the CBP Home App to leave the country on March 11.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted a video on X on Friday that seems to show Srinivasan with a suitcase at LaGuardia Airport.
No comments:
Post a Comment