Indian PhD student self deports after US revokes visa over 'advocating terrorism'

Indian national Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University, has left the US after her visa was revoked by authorities over allegations of “promoting violence and terrorism.”

In a statement on Friday (local time), US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that Srinivasan, a student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, self-deported using the CBP Home App.

“Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that one of the Columbia students who had her student visa revoked for advocating violence and terrorism self-deported using the CBP Home App, and ICE arrested a Palestinian student for overstaying her expired F-1 visa,” the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a press release.

The US Department of State revoked Srinivasan’s visa on 5 March, alleging her involvement in “activities supporting Hamas.”

“Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India, entered the United States on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University. Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation. On 5 March 2025, the Department of State revoked her visa. The Department of Homeland Security has obtained video footage of her using the CBP Home App to self-deport on 11 March,” the release stated.

Who is Ranjani Srinivasan, why was her visa was revoked?

Ranjani Srinivasan is an Indian national. She entered the United States on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

The DHS has alleged that Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.

Another student arrested

Another student, Leqaa Kordia, was arrested by US immigration officers for overstaying her expired student visa. Her visa was terminated on 26 January 2022 due to lack of attendance. She is a Palestinian from the West Bank.

In April 2024, Kordia was previously arrested for participating in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University in New York City, according to the release.