Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University, self-deported from the US after the Trump administration revoked her visa.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Self-deported, accused of being a terrorist sympathiser, evaded immigration twice.
00:05This is the story of 37-year-old Indian scholar Ranjani Srinivasan,
00:10a Fulbright Fellow and a doctoral student at Columbia University.
00:14Her life took an unexpected turn when the US revoked her visa for allegedly supporting Hamas.
00:19It all began on March 5, 2025, when the US Department of State cancelled her visa.
00:24Days later, on March 11, she used the Customs and Border Protection Home App to self-deport.
00:29Srinivasan is pursuing a PhD in Urban Planning at Columbia University's
00:33Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
00:36She also holds a Bachelor of Design degree from CEPT University
00:40and a Master's in Design from Harvard University.
00:43Her research focused on the changing land-labour relations in India's peri-urban areas.
00:47According to a profile on NYU Wagner's website,
00:50her interests included the political economy of development and sociology of labour.
00:55The crackdown on pro-Palestine students brought her under scrutiny.
00:58The US Department of State cited concerns over her alleged involvement in activities supporting Hamas.
01:03She received an email from the US Consulate in Chennai,
01:06which stated information had come to light, making her ineligible for a visa.
01:10Confused, Srinivasan contacted Columbia's International Student Office.
01:14She was assured that as long as she remained in the US, she could continue her studies.
01:19Her troubles had started in 2024, when pro-Palestine protests erupted at Columbia University.
01:25Police clashed with protesters near the university.
01:27She was arrested near the university grounds.
01:29I was just trying to get back to my apartment.
01:32Ranjani was issued two summonses for obstructing traffic and refusing to disperse.
01:37The case was dismissed, leaving her with no criminal record.
01:40She did not disclose the summonses while renewing her student visa.
01:44According to Srinivasan's attorney, she had attended only a few protests
01:48and was not part of the student occupation of Hamilton Hall.
01:51In 2023, she signed an open letter by the Society of Architectural Historians
01:56supporting Palestinian liberation.
01:58The US Department of Homeland Security labelled her as a terrorist sympathizer.
02:02Officials claimed she had failed to disclose her court summonses while renewing her visa.
02:06On March 7, three federal immigration agents arrived at her off-campus apartment.
02:11Her roommate refused to open the door.
02:13Soon after, Columbia University informed her via email that Homeland Security had revoked her visa.
02:18Her enrollment was withdrawn and she was asked to vacate student housing.
02:22The email signed by the university's international student office instructed her to meet Homeland Security.
02:28On March 13, immigration agents came knocking again.
02:31This time, they had a judicial warrant.
02:33But by then, she had fled the country.
02:35Using the CBD app, she self-deported.
02:38Surveillance footage captured her rushing through LaGuardia airport with her suitcase.
02:42Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted the video on X.
02:45After five years of work, she was on the verge of graduating.
02:48Now, her future remains uncertain.
02:51Columbia University did not comment on her case.
02:53It was unclear whether she would return to India.
02:56For now, she remained in limbo, unsure of what lay ahead.