Georgetown, D.C. — Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown University who faced deportation under the Trump administration, was released from detention this week. He had been held at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas since March after being transferred from lesser facilities due to overcrowding. Suri’s release comes after a federal judge ruled that his confinement violated both his First Amendment rights, which protect free speech, and his Fifth Amendment rights concerning due process.
Upon his release, Suri expressed relief and disbelief at his treatment. “There were no charges against me, nothing at all,” he stated. “They turned me into a subhuman.” Suri’s legal team had filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge the legality of his detention, highlighting the government’s failure to substantiate claims regarding his character and political beliefs.
Suri had originally been detained in Virginia but was moved to Louisiana and eventually to Texas. The government attempted to transfer the case out of Virginia, asserting that the habeas corpus petition should be filed in the location of detention. However, Judge Patricia Giles denied this motion, indicating a lack of clear jurisdiction over Suri’s whereabouts at the time of the filing.
Accusations from the Department of Homeland Security painted Suri as a threat, alleging he promoted Hamas propaganda on social media. Nonetheless, Judge Giles noted the government’s inability to demonstrate that Suri was a danger to the community or a flight risk.
During his time in custody, Suri described harrowing conditions that left him uncertain of his fate. “For the first week, I even missed my shadow,” he recalled. “I was chained, my ankles and wrists restrained.” He described the facility as unhygienic and expressed frustration with the absence of a response to his complaints about the conditions. Throughout this ordeal, Suri worried deeply about the impact on his three children, noting his eldest son’s distress over his absence.
His wife, Maphaz Ahmad Yousef, expressed an emotional response upon hearing the judge’s decision, deeming it a significant relief for their family. “It brought tears to my eyes,” she said, reflecting on the arduous journey they had faced. Both she and Suri expressed hope that their experiences would not become a norm in America, which they view as a beacon of hope.
ACLU attorney Sophia Gregg emphasized the broader implications of Suri’s case, stating, “If the government can do this to Dr. Suri, it can happen to anyone.” She underscored the risk of governmental overreach in detaining individuals based on their political views.
While the release is a triumph, the family’s struggles are far from over. Yousef highlighted the need for justice not just for her husband, but for others who have been “disappeared” or detained. She called for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist currently in ICE custody.
Despite the toll on his family, Suri remains resolute in his beliefs. He indicated that his advocacy for Palestine is a stance he takes pride in, seeing his detention as a badge of honor rather than a cause for shame. “I came to the U.S. to work and build a life, yet I ended up in chains,” he remarked.
Suri’s attorney has contested the charges against him, asserting that he has never engaged in any antisemitic behavior. The conditions of his detention, including claims of isolation and inadequate religious accommodations, raise serious questions about the treatment of detainees within the immigration system.
With his release, Suri looks forward to reuniting with his children and hopes to move forward from this traumatic chapter in their lives. As the family seeks to heal, they remain united in the face of adversity, reflecting an unwavering commitment to justice and advocacy.