By Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University, has left the United States after her F-1 student visa was revoked by the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Srinivasan “self-deported” amid an escalating crackdown on foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
A video released by DHS reportedly shows her rushing down a jetway with her luggage before departing on Tuesday. The Washington Times first reported her exit, citing DHS sources familiar with the case.
Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators
Srinivasan’s visa revocation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to curb anti-Israel demonstrations in the U.S., particularly on college campuses. The State Department accused her of advocating violence and terrorism, though officials have not provided specific evidence supporting these claims.
The administration has been actively investigating Columbia University, with the Justice Department launching a probe into whether the institution knowingly harbored undocumented immigrants involved in last year’s protests. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that authorities are reviewing Columbia’s handling of these demonstrations, which the government has described as pro-Hamas gatherings in reference to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Federal Agents Raid Columbia Residences
In a dramatic escalation, federal agents executed a search warrant at two Columbia University residences on Thursday evening. Although no arrests were made, officials suggested the raids were connected to their ongoing crackdown on foreign protesters. By Friday, authorities announced actions against two individuals linked to the demonstrations.
One of them, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman, was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, for overstaying her visa. Columbia University later clarified that Kordia was never an enrolled student at the institution and had no record of being arrested on campus.
Columbia Faces Financial Fallout
Columbia University has also suffered significant financial consequences due to its handling of last year’s protests. The Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal grants, primarily allocated for medical research. Officials justified this move by stating that the university had failed to prevent demonstrations that allegedly supported Hamas.
Trump’s Tough Stand on Campus Protests
During a speech at the Justice Department, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the administration’s actions, framing them as part of Trump’s mission to eliminate antisemitism in the U.S. “We will not allow campuses to become hubs of hate and violence,” Blanche stated. The administration has consistently accused pro-Palestinian demonstrators of supporting terrorism, claiming that many of these protests are linked to radical movements.
Trump himself has repeatedly called for stricter visa regulations for foreign students involved in political activism. The revocation of Srinivasan’s visa and the government’s heightened scrutiny of student demonstrators signal a new era of enforcement against those participating in controversial protests.
Self-Deportation Via New DHS App
Srinivasan reportedly left the U.S. voluntarily through a newly introduced DHS application, CBP Home. This app, launched just this week, allows undocumented immigrants and visa violators to self-report their departure without direct intervention from immigration officials. Her case marks one of the first known instances of a foreign student using the app to leave the country.
Debate Over Immigration and Free Speech
The Trump administration’s strict policies regarding foreign students and political activism have sparked a heated debate. While some conservatives support the crackdown, arguing that foreign nationals should not engage in protests on U.S. soil, others have criticized the move, calling it a violation of free speech and due process.
Legal experts have raised concerns that revoking visas without clear evidence could set a dangerous precedent, leading to further restrictions on student activism and civil liberties. Meanwhile, immigrant rights advocates argue that the use of self-deportation technology like the CBP Home app could place foreign students in vulnerable situations, forcing them to leave the U.S. without proper legal recourse.
Srinivasan’s case is expected to fuel ongoing discussions about immigration enforcement, student rights, and government oversight of university campuses. Whether more foreign students will face similar consequences remains uncertain, but for now, the Trump administration appears determined to make an example out of visa-holding protesters in the U.S.
