How Ranjani Srinivasan Escaped the US as Immigration Agents Closed In

Immigration Agents: It was not a usual morning for Ranjani Srinivasan, an international student from India, when immigration agents knocked on her door on 7 March, just two days after she learned about her visa cancellation through an email from the US Consulate in Chennai.

The 37-year-old, who was pursuing a doctoral degree in urban planning at Columbia University, had recently discovered that her visa had been canceled.

Srinivasan's troubles began when she became entangled in the government's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. Despite no evidence being provided, she was accused of supporting violence and links to Hamas. The situation escalated when federal immigration agents arrived at her apartment, prompting her to make a swift decision to leave the country.

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“The atmosphere seemed so volatile and dangerous,” Srinivasan said in her first interview since fleeing, speaking to The New York Times. “So, I just made a quick decision.”

Srinivasan's troubles began when she became entangled in the government's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. Despite no evidence being provided, she was accused of supporting violence and links to Hamas.

The situation escalated when federal immigration agents arrived at her apartment, prompting her to make a swift decision to leave the country.

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Srinivasan first learned of her visa cancellation on March 5, when she received an email from the US Consulate in Chennai. Confused and unsure, she reached out to Columbia’s international student office for guidance.

However, by March 7, when immigration agents arrived, she was already in the process of leaving the country. Her decision to flee came after a night of fear and uncertainty.

“I’m fearful that even the most low-level political speech or just doing what we all do — like shout into the abyss that is social media — can turn into this dystopian nightmare where somebody is calling you a terrorist sympathizer and making you, literally, fear for your life and your safety,” Srinivasan told The New York Times.

However, by March 7, when immigration agents arrived, she was already in the process of leaving the country. Her decision to flee came after a night of fear and uncertainty.

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