The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student at Columbia University, has voluntarily left the United States following the revocation of her visa. Srinivasan, a student in urban planning, self-deported on March 11, 2025, using the CBP Home App, after the U.S. Department of State canceled her visa on March 5, citing national security concerns.
Homeland Security’s Statement on Visa Revocation
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem addressed the situation in a public statement, affirming the action taken:
“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home App to self-deport.”
Increased Scrutiny Amid Campus Protests
Srinivasan’s departure comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign students in the United States, particularly in the wake of recent pro-Palestinian protests at universities. The protests, many of which have expressed support for Palestinian causes, have raised concerns among U.S. officials about potential sympathies with terrorist organizations.
In a related case, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers in Newark. Kordia had overstayed her F-1 student visa, which expired in January 2022, and had previously been arrested in April 2024 for participating in pro-Hamas protests on campus.
Details of Srinivasan’s Activities Still Unclear
The DHS has not disclosed specific details about the activities that led to the revocation of Srinivasan’s visa. While the U.S. government confirmed that video footage of her departure via the CBP Home App had been obtained, no further evidence has been made public. Officials have only stated that her support for Hamas was a contributing factor to the decision.
Background on Ranjani Srinivasan
Srinivasan was a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Her research focused on the evolving land-labor relations in peri-urban statutory towns in India. She had received support for her work from the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute.
A graduate of CEPT University in Ahmedabad and Harvard University, Srinivasan also worked for an environmental nonprofit in Washington, D.C., addressing climate change impacts on vulnerable communities. Additionally, she has been a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s West Philadelphia Landscape Project.
Srinivasan has described herself using gender-neutral pronouns and has publicly expressed an interest in urbanization, political economy, and the historical geographies of capitalism and caste.
Debate Over Free Speech and Political Activism
The visa revocation has sparked a debate over free speech, the rights of foreign students, and U.S. immigration policy. The U.S. government has maintained silence on the exact allegations against Srinivasan, fueling further discussion over the role of foreign students in political activism on American campuses.
While no formal charges have been brought against Srinivasan, her case highlights the complexities surrounding the intersection of immigration, national security, and political expression in an increasingly polarized environment.