Overview

• U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled that Badar Khan Suri's detention violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights, ordering his immediate release from Texas ICE custody.
• Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow and Indian national, was arrested in March after his visa was revoked over alleged ties to Hamas, claims his attorneys argue lack evidence.
• The Trump administration cited Suri's social media posts and familial connections to a former Hamas advisor as grounds for detention, allegations the court found unsubstantiated.
• This ruling is the third recent legal victory for international academics detained for pro-Palestinian activism, emphasizing constitutional protections for noncitizens' free speech.
• Suri must reside in Virginia and attend future hearings as his deportation case proceeds separately in Texas, where he can participate virtually.