Iranian PhD Student at University of Alabama Detained by ICE
A doctoral student at the University of Alabama has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities, adding to a growing number of arrests targeting noncitizen students across American universities.
The student, identified as Alireza Doroudi, a mechanical engineering PhD candidate and Iranian national, was reportedly arrested at his off-campus residence in the early hours of Tuesday. According to records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he is currently being held in a detention facility.
Federal Authorities Cite National Security Concerns
In a brief statement, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Doroudi was detained by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit. The spokesperson stated that his arrest followed the revocation of his student visa by the U.S. State Department, citing unspecified national security concerns.
As of now, no formal charges have been announced, and it remains unclear whether Doroudi has retained legal representation.
University, Student Groups Respond
In a statement released Wednesday, the University of Alabama acknowledged the detention of one of its students, adding that it occurred off campus and that the institution was not informed in advance. The university emphasized its support for its international student body, calling them “valued members of the campus community.”
Meanwhile, the University of Alabama College Democrats issued a strongly worded response, describing the arrest as a distressing development and questioning the justification behind it. The group linked Doroudi’s detainment to what it described as a broader pattern of politically motivated immigration enforcement actions targeting students across the country.
Part of a Growing Pattern
Doroudi’s case emerges amid a series of recent detentions involving international students. Just days earlier, Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University and Turkish national, was arrested in Massachusetts. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of publicly supporting Hamas and terminated her visa.
Other high-profile cases include Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who remains in custody in Louisiana despite holding permanent residency, and Columbia student Yunseo Chung, a U.S. green card holder, who is currently contesting a deportation order in court.
These developments reflect an intensified focus by federal immigration authorities on higher education institutions, especially in cases involving political activism or perceived threats to national security.
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