A doctoral student from the University of Alabama has been detained by federal immigration authorities, according to the school.
Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian national studying mechanical engineering, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at his off-campus home in Tuscaloosa around 5 a.m. Tuesday, UA’s student paper The Crimson White reported.
University officials confirmed that a graduate student had been detained by federal immigration authorities, but did not confirm the identity, citing privacy reasons.
ICE records show that a person named Alireza Doroudi is currently “in custody,” but does not say where he is being held, according to Al.com.
It’s unclear exactly why Doroudi was detained.
Doroudi entered the US in Jan. 2023 and learned six months later that his F-1 student visa had been revoked, according to the Crimson White.
The Iranian contacted UA’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). The department told him that the notification was not a major issue and that he could remain in the US as long as he maintained his student status, the paper reported.
“Federal privacy laws limit what can be shared about an individual student,” UA spokesman Alex House said in a statement.
“International students studying at the University are valued members of the campus community, and International Student and Scholar Services is available to assist international students who have questions. UA has and will continue to follow all immigration laws and cooperate with federal authorities.”
The Post has reached out to ICE and DHS for additional information on the arrest.
Doroudi is one of several international graduate students detained under President Trump’s new crackdown on immigration.
The president has pledged to deport foreign anti-Israel protesters in the US, accusing them of antisemitism, supporting Hamas and threatening to U.S. foreign policy.
Earlier this month, Columbia University graduate student and anti-Israel protester Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE for his role organizing demonstrations at the New York City Ivy League school. The Syrian national, who has a green card, is being held in Louisiana although he has not been charged with any crimes.
Rumeysa Ozturk, Tufts University Ph.D. student from Turkey, was taken by ICE agents off the Boston streets on Wednesday after the Trump administration “terminated” her student visa over her alleged “activities in support of Hamas,” the Department of Homeland Security said.
Immigration authorities are also attempting to deport 21-year-old Columbia student Yunseo Chung — who moved to the United States from South Korea nearly 15 years ago with her family after she was arrested earlier this month during an anti-Israel protest weeks ago.
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