Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced developments concerning two students from Columbia University involved in activities supporting Hamas. One student self-deported using the CBP Home App, while another was arrested for overstaying her visa.
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian national and doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, had her F-1 student visa revoked by the Department of State on March 5, 2025. She was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that she used the CBP Home App to self-deport on March 11.
In a separate case, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by ICE HSI Newark officers for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa. Her visa was terminated on January 26, 2022, due to lack of attendance. Kordia had previously been arrested in April 2024 for participating in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University.
Secretary Noem stated: “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.”
