Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 15: In a significant development that underscores the growing scrutiny of immigration enforcement under the Trump-era policies, a federal judge on Wednesday ordered the release of an Indian scholar, Badar Khan Suri, from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.
Suri, a visiting scholar and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was held in Texas following his arrest by plainclothes officers near his residence in Virginia on March 17. The detention had sparked outrage among civil rights groups, as it was linked to his online speech and family background.
District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, presiding in Alexandria, Virginia, ordered Suri’s release, stating that the scholar had presented "substantial constitutional claims" against the Trump administration. The judge observed that Suri, who holds a J-1 visa and has been in the US since 2022, posed no threat to the community and emphasized the needs of his family, including his three children — a 9-year-old son and 5-year-old twins.
The US government had alleged that Suri’s visa was revoked due to his social media posts and his wife’s Palestinian heritage. His wife, Mapheze Saleh, is reportedly the daughter of Ahmed Yousef, a former advisor to a Hamas leader. Authorities controversially linked Suri to support for Hamas — a claim his attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) strongly denied.
Judge Giles strongly asserted that Suri's political commentary on the Israel-Gaza conflict likely constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment. “The First Amendment does not distinguish between citizens and non-citizens,” the judge noted, drawing attention to the constitutional rights extended to all within the US.
In a move that raised eyebrows, authorities transferred Suri across three states in rapid succession — first to Louisiana and then to Texas — without informing his family or legal counsel. The ACLU contended that the transfer was a tactical attempt to move the case to a conservative jurisdiction. However, Judge Giles retained the case in Virginia, siding with Suri’s attorneys.
Before his arrest, Suri had been teaching a course on majority and minority rights in South Asia and aspired to build a career in academia.
Meanwhile, in a separate case highlighting the tensions between local and federal authorities, a federal grand jury has indicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents during a court appearance in a domestic abuse matter. If convicted, Judge Dugan could face up to six years in prison. She has maintained her innocence and is scheduled to enter her plea on Thursday.
In another legal twist, a Pennsylvania federal judge has ruled in favour of the Trump administration’s attempt to deport a Venezuelan man under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. However, the judge, Stephanie L. Haines, stipulated that the individual must first be given notification in his native language, 21 days to respond, and a fair hearing. The government claims the man has links to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang labelled a terrorist outfit. The ACLU has vowed to appeal the decision.
These rulings, taken together, reflect the ongoing legal battles surrounding immigration policies, civil liberties, and the scope of executive power under contentious laws dating back to wartime eras.