Chicago March 22, 2025
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian-origin PhD student at Columbia University, has left the United States after her student visa was revoked. The move comes amid a controversy surrounding her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Srinivasan used the CBP Home app to self-deport, but Srinivasan’s attorney, Nathan Yaffe, denies this. Yaffe says that Srinivasan booked a flight out of the country to comply with US law after her student status was terminated.
The Trump administration has been cracking down on foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and Srinivasan’s case is the latest example. Her lawyers claim that her student visa was revoked illegally without explanation.
Srinivasan’s departure from the US has sparked debate over immigration policies and free speech on American campuses. The incident has also raised questions about the use of the CBP Home app, which allows individuals to self-report their departure from the US.
