January 1, Foreign Student Kills American College Girl — Then Authorities Let Him Flee the Country

Wyatt’s Take

• A 19-year-old American college student was strangled to death in her apartment by a foreign national on a student visa who had already been arrested for assault and expelled from campus
• Despite being a known threat with no legal reason to remain in the country, the suspect boarded an international flight and fled to Germany before authorities could stop him
• This bright young woman was the first in her family to attend college on scholarship, dreaming of becoming a child psychologist — now her family is left asking how this was allowed to happen

Julissa “Julie” Salazar had her whole life ahead of her. The 19-year-old University of Arizona student was so advanced she skipped seventh grade and started college at just 17 years old on a scholarship. She graduated in the top 5% of her high school class and was working toward her dream of becoming a child psychologist.

Now her family is planning a funeral instead of celebrating her academic success. On Thursday, Julie was found strangled to death in her apartment near campus.

The alleged killer? A 20-year-old foreign national from India named Varun Batchigari who was in the U.S. on a student visa. But here’s where this story goes from tragic to infuriating.

Batchigari had already been arrested for assault back in May. The University of Arizona Police Department charged him, and the school expelled him on July 22 — more than two weeks before Julie’s murder. He had no legal business being on campus or even in this country anymore.

“He no longer had any business here [in the U.S.] or around the student body, especially as a threat,” Julie’s mother told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

Despite being a known danger, despite having his student status revoked, despite having already committed a violent crime on American soil, somehow this foreign national was able to board an international flight and flee the country. He was eventually captured by law enforcement in Berlin, Germany, and now awaits extradition.

Julie’s mother says her daughter had broken up with Batchigari before the murder. Investigators believe the breakup may have been his motive.

“She had already had that conversation with him” about ending the relationship, her mother said.

Federal law enforcement sources confirmed Batchigari entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa in January 2024. He was expelled following what reports describe as a “fight.” Before his expulsion, he was studying business analytics.

In a video he posted to YouTube in April, Batchigari said:

“I don’t see work as my purpose. I see it as a tool, something that helps me build a life I actually want. I want to travel, see different places, experience different cultures, and do that with someone I care about.”

While he was busy philosophizing about traveling the world, an American family was investing everything in their daughter’s education and future.

“She was our first-generation child going off to college. So this was a huge deal for our entire family,” Julie’s mother said.

“Us sending her off to be able to live that dream that she wanted to live was such an amazing and proud moment for us.”

Julie was about to begin her third year at the University of Arizona. She was a “bright light,” her mother said — both in personality and intellect.

“She was a big advocate for survivors. She was a big advocate for new first-generation students. She was a big advocate for mental health.”

Now this advocate for others will never get the chance to help the children she dreamed of serving. She leaves behind her mother, father, and two younger sisters.

“This happening to her feels so unfair in so many ways,” her mother said.

The University of Arizona released a statement expressing condolences:

“We can confirm that Julissa Rubi Salazar was a University of Arizona student and offer our deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who knew her as a member of our campus community. We have been in contact with Julissa’s family and are providing support and resources to those who need them during this very difficult time.”

But condolences don’t answer the basic question: How does a foreign national with an assault charge and a revoked student visa manage to board an international flight and flee the country?

Under the Trump administration, the State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas. But enforcement clearly has gaps when someone like Batchigari can slip through.

“I know we will get justice for my baby girl,” Julie’s mother said.

Why It Matters

American families send their kids to college trusting they’ll be safe. When our government allows foreign nationals to remain in the country after being expelled and charged with violent crimes, that trust is shattered. Julie Salazar did everything right — worked hard, earned scholarships, dreamed of helping children. Her family sacrificed to give her opportunities. She deserved better than a system that failed to protect her from a known threat who had no legal right to be here.