Indian student at Columbia University gets visa revoked for 'supporting Hamas';

An Indian student at Columbia University whose visa was revoked for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism and involvement in activities supporting Hamas has selfdeported Ranjani Srinivasan a citizen and national of India entered the United States on a F1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Friday It added that Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas a terrorist organisationThe Department of State had revoked her visa on March 5 The Department of Homeland Security said it has obtained video footage of Srinivasan using the Customs and Border Protection CBP Home App to selfdeport on March 11 Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in the statement that it is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of AmericaWhen you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathisers use the CBP Home app to selfdeport Noem saidThe Department of Homeland Security had on March 10 launched the CBP Home app with a selfdeportation reporting feature for those illegally staying in the country Individuals illegally staying in the country can use the CBP Home mobile phone application to submit their intent to depart the country The CBP app gives such individuals the option to leave now and selfdeport so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream If they dont we will find them we will deport them and they will never return the Homeland Security Department saidAnother student Leqaa Kordia a Palestinian from West Bank was arrested by ICE HSI Newark officers for overstaying her expired F1 student visa Her visa terminated on January 26 2022 for lack of attendance Previously in April 2024 Kordia was arrested for her involvement in proHamas protests at Columbia University in New York City the department saidLast week the Trump administration had announced the immediate cancellation of approximately USD 400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish studentsThe Department of Justice DOJ Department of Health and Human Services HHS Department of Education ED and the US General Services Administration GSA took the action as members of the Joint Task Force to Combat AntiSemitism The Education Department said in a press release that Columbia University currently holds more than USD 5 billion in federal grant commitmentsPresident Donald Trump has asserted that any college or university that allows illegal protests and repeatedly fails to protect students from antiSemitic harassment on campus will be subject to the loss of federal fundingSecretary of Education Linda McMahon has said since October 7 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel Jewish students have faced relentless violence intimidation and antiSemitic harassment on their campuses only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect themUniversities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding For too long Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus We demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer McMahon has saidIn the spring of last year largescale proPalestinian protests by students against the war in Gaza erupted across US campuses as well as at Columbia University that saw encampments on the West Lawn of Columbias Morningside campus since April 19The Trump administration has arrested Columbia University graduate and legal permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil for his role in leading campus protests at Columbia against Israel Khalil who is of Palestinian heritage was detained by immigration authorities and has been sent to a detention centre in LouisianaOn Thursday the Columbia University Judicial Board issued sanctions to students ranging from multiyear suspensions temporary degree revocations and expulsions related to the occupation of Hamilton Hall last spring during the Gaza protestsWith respect to other events taking place last spring the UJBs determinations recognised previously imposed disciplinary action The return of suspended students will be overseen by Columbias University Life Office Columbia is committed to enforcing the Universitys Rules and Policies and improving our disciplinary processes the university saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever