Indian scholar Ranjani Srinivasan's final hours in US: Abandoned apartment, left cat with friend

Srinivasan’s ordeal began on March 5 when she received an email from the US Consulate in Chennai informing her of her visa cancellation.

Ranjani Srinivasan, the Indian doctoral student at Columbia University who fled the US, reportedly left her cat with a friend, abandoned her apartment and belongings, and booked a last-minute flight to Canada from LaGuardia Airport, citing a “volatile and dangerous” atmosphere.

The 37-year-old, pursuing a PhD in Urban Planning, departed the US on March 11 after her F-1 student visa was revoked by the State Department on March 5 over alleged support for Hamas, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Srinivasan, who was pursuing a PhD in Urban Planning, departed the US on March 11, days after her F-1 student visa was canceled on March 5. The DHS stated that she "self-deported" using the CBP Home App, and officials confirmed her exit with video footage of her departure.

Srinivasan’s ordeal began on March 5 when she received an email from the US Consulate in Chennai informing her of her visa cancellation. Confused, she contacted Columbia’s international student office for support. However, by March 7, federal immigration agents had started visiting her apartment repeatedly, prompting her to make a swift exit. “I’m fearful that even the smallest political speech or social media post can turn into a nightmare,” she told The New York Times.

Her departure was marked by a tense moment when agents arrived at her door while she was finalizing her escape plans. “I was on the phone with my friend in Canada, figuring out the details of my flight, when I heard the doorbell. I panicked,” she recounted. Her roommate was left to confront the agents, explaining that Srinivasan had already fled. “It was a moment of sheer tension,” she added, as reported by The New York Times.

Srinivasan’s visa revocation reportedly stemmed from a government crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests, with allegations of her supporting violence and having ties to Hamas—claims unsupported by evidence, per The New York Times. Once a Fulbright scholar who had built a life in the U.S., she now finds herself uprooted. “I’m just surprised that I’m a person of interest. I never thought something like this would happen to me. I’m just trying to figure out what comes next,” she said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Srinivasan “voluntarily self-deported.” In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem remarked, “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,” as quoted by The New York Times.

Meanwhile, federal agents executed search warrants at Columbia residences on March 14 as part of their investigations. While no arrests were made, DHS confirmed that one of the locations searched was Srinivasan’s dormitory. Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, acknowledged the federal searches, stating, “Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure our campus is safe. We expect city, state, and federal agencies to uphold the law.”

Srinivasan’s abrupt departure and the broader federal actions have fueled debates over academic freedom and visa policies, as tensions on US campuses continue to rise.