• Federal judge orders release of Badar Khan Suri from ICE detention.
• Suri's detention raised serious constitutional concerns regarding free speech.
• Judge cited lack of evidence supporting accusations against Suri of terrorism.
• The ruling represents a broader legal pushback against the Trump administration's policies.
• Suri's release is part of ongoing scrutiny of immigration actions targeting academics for their political views.

A federal judge in Virginia has ordered the release of Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, who was detained by immigration authorities in March amid claims that he spread Hamas propaganda due to his pro-Palestinian activism. U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles ruled that Suri's detention likely violated his constitutional rights and allowed him to return home to Virginia while his legal case against deportation continues, citing a lack of justification for the government’s actions, according to The New York Times, ABC News, and Los Angeles Times.

Judge Giles considered Suri's situation compelling, stating that "speech regarding the conflict there and opposing Israel’s military campaign is likely protected political speech," emphasizing that the First Amendment protects such expressions regardless of one’s citizenship status. She ruled that Suri is not a flight risk and poses no danger to the community, according to CBS News, India Times, and HuffPost.

Prior to his release, Suri was moved among multiple ICE facilities, being detained under conditions critics described as inhumane. The Trump administration cited Suri's visa revocation based on alleged connections with Hamas via his family, specifically targeting him due to his social media activities and political statements. However, the government failed to provide concrete evidence to support these allegations, as noted by Judge Giles, Middle East Eye and Reuters.

Suri's case is part of a troubling trend where the Trump administration has reportedly directed efforts to detain and deport academics and students critical of U.S. policies regarding Palestine. This ruling is seen as a significant defeat for the administration, following similar decisions in favor of other students with pro-Palestinian views, according to NPR and Anadolu Agency.