Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian Fulbright scholar at Columbia University, has accused US authorities of targeting her for exercising her right to free speech following her sudden departure from the US amidst an alleged crackdown on pro-Palestinian student demonstrators.

Srinivasan left for Canada last week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made repeated visits to her apartment. Her troubles began during protests at Columbia University over the Israel-Hamas war, when she was mistakenly arrested while trying to return home. Though charges were later dropped, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited her for immigration action, labelling her a “terrorist sympathiser”—a claim her legal team firmly denies.

She was informed of her visa revocation via email without clear reasons. Concerned about escalating ICE actions, she left voluntarily. Her lawyers argue the revocation and ICE pursuit were retaliatory, linked to her signing an open letter supporting Palestinian rights, and not based on any wrongdoing. Civil liberties groups have raised concerns, saying political speech should not trigger immigration enforcement.

Now in Canada, Srinivasan remains uncertain about her future, emphasizing that universities should protect political discourse without fear of reprisal.