Judge Orders Release of Detained Georgetown Researcher: A Victory for Student Activism

A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia on Thursday ordered the release of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University researcher who had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two months. The ruling stated that Suri "shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order." This decision marks the third instance where a federal judge has intervened to release a student activist from ICE detention. According to Secretary of State Rubio, the detained students' behavior poses potential adverse consequences for US foreign policy. Suri's wife, speaking at a press conference, expressed her relief and gratitude, stating, "Your support restores my hope for freedom, my trust in justice, not only for Badar, but for all the students and academics and all oppressed around the world." The judge's decision highlights ongoing debates surrounding immigration policies and the rights of students and academics.