Indian student at Columbia University self-deports after visa cancelled over Hamas ties

An Indian student at Columbia University, whose visa was revoked for allegedly "advocating for violence and terrorism" and involvement in activities supporting Hamas, has self-deported.

Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India, entered the United States on a F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Friday. It added that Srinivasan was "involved in activities supporting" Hamas, a terrorist organisation.

The Department of State had revoked her visa on March 5. The Department of Homeland Security said it has obtained video footage of Srinivasan using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in the statement that it is a "privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America".

The Department of Homeland Security had, on March 10, launched the CBP Home app with a self-deportation reporting feature for those illegally staying in the country. Individuals illegally staying in the country can use the CBP Home mobile phone application to submit their intent to depart the country.

The CBP app gives such individuals the option to "leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return", the Homeland Security Department said.

Last week, the Trump administration had announced the immediate cancellation of approximately USD 400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the "school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students".

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED) and the US General Services Administration (GSA) took the action as members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.

The Education Department said in a press release that Columbia University currently holds more than USD 5 billion in federal grant commitments.

President Donald Trump has asserted that any college or university that allows illegal protests and repeatedly fails to protect students from anti-Semitic harassment on campus will be subject to the loss of federal funding.