The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a reminder to Indian students in the United States, urging them to adhere strictly to American laws. This comes after two high-profile cases involving Indian nationals — Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, and Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia University student.
Suri was detained in Washington DC by the Department of Homeland Security over accusations of “spreading Hamas propaganda.” Meanwhile, Srinivasan’s student visa was revoked over similar allegations, prompting her to self-deport to Canada using the CBP Home App.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that neither Suri nor Srinivasan sought assistance from Indian missions in the US. “We came to know about Srinivasan’s departure through media reports. Neither she nor the US authorities contacted us,” Jaiswal stated. On Suri’s case, he confirmed no official communication from either side.
He stressed that immigration and visa regulations fall under each nation’s sovereign authority. “Just as foreign nationals must obey Indian laws, Indian citizens abroad are also expected to respect local regulations,” he emphasized.
Regarding educational ties, Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening student and academic collaborations with the US, calling student participation a crucial pillar in bilateral relations.
Srinivasan entered the US as a doctoral student on an F-1 visa, which was revoked on March 5. She left the country on March 11.
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