Indian Columbia PhD Student Self-Deports After U.S. Revokes Visa Over Alleged Hamas Support

Ranjani Srinivasan, accused of advocating violence and terrorism during pro-Palestinian protests, used a mobile app to voluntarily leave the United States.

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student at Columbia University, self-deported after her U.S. visa was revoked on March 5, 2025, for alleged support of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
The Department of Homeland Security cited her participation in pro-Palestinian protests and accused her of advocating violence and terrorism as reasons for the visa cancellation.
Srinivasan used the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP Home app to voluntarily leave the country on March 11, with video footage of the process shared by U.S. officials.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the revocation as part of a broader effort to deny visas to individuals seen as threatening U.S. security or supporting terrorism.
Columbia University faces federal scrutiny, with the Trump administration threatening funding cuts unless the institution enforces stricter disciplinary measures and reforms its policies.