US: Indian student at Columbia University self-deports after visa revocation over Pro-Palestine protests
PTC Web Desk: An Indian student at Columbia University has voluntarily left the United States after her student visa was revoked for participating in pro-Palestine protests. The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ranjani Srinivasan's visa was cancelled on March 5, citing "advocating violence and terrorism" as the reason.
A statement from the department alleged that Srinivasan was involved in activities linked to Hamas. "On March 5, 2025, the Department of State revoked her visa. On March 11, she used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency app to self-deport," the statement read.
Self-deportation allows individuals to leave voluntarily, avoiding forced removal, which in some cases involves deportation via US military aircraft.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of Srinivasan at the airport, emphasising that individuals supporting violence should not remain in the country. "Living and studying in the US is a privilege. If you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked," Noem stated on social media platform X.
Srinivasan was pursuing a doctorate in urban planning at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad and a Master’s from Harvard, supported by the Fulbright Nehru and Inlaks Scholarships. Her professional background includes environmental advocacy work in Washington, focusing on climate change impact on frontier communities.
Columbia University has been a focal point for student-led demonstrations supporting Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Last week, the US authorities arrested former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, for his role in past protests. While his residency status has been revoked, a federal judge has temporarily halted his deportation.
Additionally, another Columbia student, Leqaa Kordia, was detained for overstaying her student visa. She was previously arrested for participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations in New York.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the US authorities are investigating whether Columbia University is "harbouring and concealing illegal aliens" on campus.
- With inputs from agencies
