Georgetown Scholar Badar Khan Suri Details Emotional Toll and Reunion After ICE Release
Georgetown Scholar Badar Khan Suri Details Emotional Toll and Reunion After ICE Release
Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri, who was recently released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, is now sharing the profound personal and familial impact of his detention. His release last month, following a judge’s ruling that his detention violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights, marks the end of a challenging period that saw him arrested three months prior by the Department of Homeland Security.
Khan Suri was arrested outside his Virginia home and accused by DHS of “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media,” claims his attorney has vehemently denied. Despite never being formally charged with a crime, he endured months in ICE facilities, including the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas.
During his time behind bars, Khan Suri focused on parenting his three young sons. He recounted creating a fantastical tale for his younger twins, telling them he was “lost somewhere in the clouds” to explain his absence. He also attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy and humor for his older son, despite the harsh realities of detention, which included being placed in a TV room and being issued a high-security uniform.
Reflecting on the experience, Khan Suri described parenting from detention as “one of the most heartbreaking parts of my experience — but also the one that kept me going.” He credits his wife, Maphaz Ahmad Yousef, for being an indispensable support system for their children.
His reunion with his children was joyful, with all three shouting and hugging him upon his return. For the twins, their father had finally come back from the “clouds.” Khan Suri is now focused on rebuilding his life, embracing quintessential dad duties, and processing the “survivor’s clarity” gained from witnessing injustice.
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