Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian PhD candidate at Columbia University, has left the United States after her student visa was revoked due to alleged ties to pro-Palestine demonstrations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed her participation involved “advocating violence and terrorism,” leading to her visa cancellation on March 5.
DHS stated that Srinivasan supported Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the U.S. government. Surveillance footage confirmed she used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app to facilitate her own departure on March 11. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right, adding that those promoting violence should be expelled.
Srinivasan, a doctoral student in urban planning, was conducting research on India’s peri-urban areas with support from the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute. She previously studied at CEPT University, Harvard, and MIT, holding prestigious scholarships like the Fulbright-Nehru and Inlaks. Her work spanned environmental advocacy and urban development.
Columbia University has not commented on the incident, while debates over free speech and student activism continue.
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