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Ranjani Srinivasan, a student from the University of Columbia in India, self-description of the United States after his visa was revoked on pro-palestinian protests. She described the experience as a “dystopian nightmare.”
Ranjani Srinivasan self-supported after her visa was revoked by the Trump administration for supporting pro-palestinian protests. (X/Reuters)
Ranjani Srinivasan, a student from India at Columbia University who had to deport after his visa was revoked by pro-palestinian protests, recalled his “dystopian nightmare” in his first comments.
Srinivasan, 37, Who used the CBP start application (Customs and Border Protection) To self -use of the United States, he shared that he found the dangerous atmosphere and feared that “even the lowest political discourse could become this dystopian nightmare.”
“I am afraid that even the most low -level political discourse or simply doing what we all do, such as shouting at the abyss that is the social network, can become this dystopian nightmare where someone calls you terrorist sympathizer and makes you literally fear your life and your security.” Srinivasan, who was studying a doctorate in urban planning in Columbia, He said in an interview with New York Times.
Disseminating reasons for its rapid departure, he said: “The atmosphere seemed so volatile and dangerous, so I made a quick decision.”
The United States Department of State confirmed that it deported itself on March 11, 2025, using the CBP Home application and video images of the process have been obtained. Ranjani Srinivasan He was accused of supporting Hamas as a wave of pro-Palestinian protests swept the University of Columbia and other American campuses last year during the Israel-Ahamas War in Gaza.
Why Ranjani Srinivasan had to deport himself
Srinivasan, a Fulbright scholar, was swept in the repression of President Trump against pro-palestinian protesters using federal immigration powers. She is among a small group of non -citizens recently attacked by immigration and customs application (ICE) at Columbia University.
Srinivasan expressed confusion for the sudden revocation of the State Department of his student visa, which led Columbia to terminate his registration.
National Security officials explained that when Srinivas renewed their visa last year, he did not reveal two judicial citations related to protests on the Columbia campus. However, they did not clarify how these citations made her look like a supporter of terrorism.
History of Srinivasan
The current situation of Srinivasan dates back to last year, when he was arrested near the Columbia Campus the same day, the pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Hamilton Hall. She argues that she was not involved in the occupation, but she had been walking back to her apartment after a picnic with friends, navigating the crowds and barricades on West 116th street when the police pushed her and arrested her.
It was briefly arrested and issued two citations: one to obstruct traffic and another for not dispersing. His case was immediately dismissed, with no criminal record, according to his lawyers and judicial documents. He also declared that he did not face disciplinary actions from the University and remained in a good academic position.
“She was arrested along with more than 100 another 100 after being blocked to return to her apartment and be caught in the street,” said Nathan Yaffe, one of his lawyers. “The court recognized him when he dismissed his case, dating that he had no merit. Ranjani was simply trying to walk home.”
Srinivasan explained that he did not report the calls about his Visa renewal form later that year because his case had been dismissed in May and had no conviction. “Since I had not been convicted, I marked it as ‘No’,” he said. “Maybe that was my mistake. I would have revealed it, but the way the questions were framed made them seem to assume a conviction.”
