Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University has self-deported using the CBP Home App. But why? According to the US authorities, the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan—the student—was revoked for supporting Hamas.
Srinivasan, an Indian national and doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, had entered America on a F-1 student visa, reports claimed. According to the DHS, Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas. US considers Hamas to be a designated terrorist organisation.
On March 5, the US authorities had revoked her visa. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a statement regarding the deportation. “It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When 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 sympathizers use the CBP Home App to self-deport,” the statement read.
In an another incident, a Palestinian student Leqaa Kordia from West Bank, was arrested by ICE HSI Newark officers for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa.