Federal Judge Raises Concerns Over Detention of Indian Scholar Dr. Badar Khan Suri Amid Deportation Proceedings

Los Angeles/ May 02, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Rep. Don Beyer released a video statement following a federal court hearing held at the Eastern District of Virginia regarding the case of Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University. Dr. Suri, who resides in Arlington, Virginia, was legally present in the U.S. when he was detained without charges in March under directives issued during the Trump Administration.

The Congressman met with Dr. Suri’s legal team earlier this week in his Washington, D.C. office, prior to attending the hearing.

According to reports, Dr. Suri was apprehended outside his Rosslyn home by masked individuals believed to be federal agents. He was subsequently transferred between multiple detention facilities across several states, ultimately ending up in Texas. He remains in custody there—more than 1,300 miles from his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their three young children.
His legal team noted the severe emotional toll on his family. “His son spent days crying uncontrollably after his father’s disappearance and has since stopped speaking,” they reported. Despite the gravity of the situation, no formal charges have been brought against Dr. Suri, and the government has not provided any evidence of wrongdoing.

During the hearing, Dr. Suri’s lawyers urged that he be returned to Virginia. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles questioned the government’s justification for his transfer to Texas. While the government cited overcrowding at Virginia detention centers as the reason, Judge Giles pointed out that Dr. Suri had his own room and bed in Virginia. In contrast, for his first 10 days in Texas, he was forced to sleep on the floor in a loud, continuously lit television room.

Judge Giles ordered the government to submit a detailed explanation within 24 hours regarding Dr. Suri’s transfer. His legal team was given another 24 hours to respond, with a decision expected the following week.
In his statement, Rep. Beyer expressed deep concern over the case:

“This is Congressman Don Beyer, representing Northern Virginia in the U.S. House. I’ve just come from the U.S. courthouse in Alexandria, where I spent two hours listening to Judge Patricia Giles and the legal arguments concerning Dr. Badar Khan Suri.
Dr. Suri is a lawful resident of the U.S., a scholar and teacher at Georgetown University specializing in conflict resolution. About two months ago, he was seized at night by three plainclothes ICE agents without identification. They transported him in an unmarked vehicle, moving him from Virginia to multiple locations, ultimately landing him in Texas.

Today’s hearing centered on why he was removed from Virginia despite a pending writ of habeas corpus. It’s deeply troubling—Dr. Suri has not been accused of any wrongdoing. This case exemplifies the troubling legacy of the Trump Administration’s use of fear and intimidation against immigrants and voices they disapprove of, particularly on academic campuses.

We must resist these unjust actions. I will continue advocating for Dr. Suri and his family. I urge the public to raise awareness, share these stories, and recognize the threat they pose to constitutional rights.
It is truly Kafkaesque when someone can be detained without cause, without explanation, and transported across state lines to an uncertain fate.”

New Source: Click Here