WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- A Georgetown University researcher was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after he was accused of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-semitism on social media, according to officials. Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a foreign exchange stu dent from India. He was a fellow at Georgetown University and in the United States on a student visa. Georgetown University told DC News Now that he attended the school to continue doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to a report from The Washington Post, on March 17, Suri was detained outside of his home in Rosslyn in Arlington, Va. by DHS agents. His arrest comes as federal officials have increased their arrests and detentions of immigrants with legal statuses in the U.S. as President Donald Trump tries to crack down on broader immigration. RELATED STORY | Georgetown scholar detained over American wife’s Palestinian ties, lawyer says DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a post on X that the Secretary of State determined on March 15 that Suri’s activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable. In the post, McLaughlin accused him of having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. However, in a statement to DC News Now, a Georgetown University spokesperson said they were not aware of Suri engaging in an illegal activity. "Dr. Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention. We support our community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly," said the spokesperson. Fairfax County police: Armed man near CIA headquarters surrenders after barricade incident Suri's attorney Hassan Ahmad reportedly argued that Suri was detained because of his wife's Palestinian heritage and their views on U.S. Israel policy. "Seeing our government abduct and jail another innocent person is beyond contemptible," said Ahmad. Suri's arrest comes weeks after Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student activist and legal U.S. resident, was detained over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Congressman Don Beyer issued a statement saying that Suri's arrest is a "clear violation of his constitutional rights, and he must be released." “The ‘justification’ given for these violations of Mr. Suri’s right to due process is another violation of the Constitution: a blatant attack on the First Amendment. Mr. Suri and his family are unfortunately the latest victim of President Trump’s assault on the freedom of speech. Trump has made no effort to disguise the fact that the arrests of academics like Suri and Mahmoud Khalil is intended to have a chilling effect and discourage the free expression of political views which Trump dislikes," said Beyer, in part. Suri is being held in Louisiana and is awaiting a date in immigration court. ...read more read less