Indian PhD student Ranjini Srinivasan, 37, has finally spoken out after self-deporting to Canada after the US student visa she had was revoked over claims that she was a Hamas supporter, a terror group that has offices in Gaza. Srinivasan, a Fulbright scholar at Columbia University, was on the cusp of finishing her PhD in public planning before the sudden cancellation of her visa.
Visa Revoked, Flight to Canada
Srinivasan heard of her visa revocation for the first time on March 5 by way of an email from the US Consulate in Chennai. Only hours after that, officers of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) knocked on her door, in all likelihood to take her into custody for deportation. She did not open the door. On the next day, ICE officers came knocking when she was out, interrogating her roommate as to where she was.
The incident became more complicated when another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested on campus, causing disturbances among the students. Panicked that she would be arrested, Srinivasan took flight, grabbing only a bag containing her necessary documents and possessions. On March 11, after escaping from US officials, she made a flight out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Canada, where she found sanctuary among relatives and friends. CCTV footage of her at the airport, dragging her bag, went viral on social media.
Betrayed by Columbia University
Having spent five years at Columbia University working diligently on her PhD, Srinivasan feels let down by the institution. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she said:
“I spent five years at Columbia University, working, I don’t know, maybe 100 hours a week sometimes. I never expected the institution to let me down. But it did.” Srinivasan has officially appealed to Columbia University for reinstatement, claiming that she has fulfilled all academic requirements required to obtain her PhD.
“All the requirements for my PhD are complete, and whatever is left, I don’t even need to be in the US for it. So, I’m trying to appeal to Columbia,” she continued. To date, Columbia University has not released any official remark on her situation.
Allegations and Inadequate Public Evidence
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Srinivasan a “terrorist sympathizer” on X (formerly Twitter) just four days after her escape. Yet, no public evidence has been offered to support the charges against her. It is not known whether she was targeted because of her political opinions on the Israel-Palestine issue or whether there were tangible actions that prompted the charges.
“I’m worried that even the most low-level political rhetoric or just simply doing what we all do—shout into the void of social media—can become this dystopian nightmare, where someone is labeling you a terrorist sympathizer and causing you to fear for your life and safety,” Srinivasan explained.
Life in Limbo
Now in Canada, Srinivasan’s future is uncertain. Her career as an academic hangs in the balance, and she is left in legal limbo pending a reply from Columbia University. Her case has fueled discussions on freedom of speech, academic freedom, and how far universities go to protect students persecuted on political grounds.
As the scandal unfolds, the most important questions are yet to be answered: Will Columbia University reinstate her? Was she singled out solely for her opinions, or is there unknown evidence against her? Until formal explanations are heard, Ranjini Srinivasan lives in exile, waiting for justice and the end of her educational journey.
