A doctoral student at the University of Alabama has been arrested and detained by immigration authorities, as the Trump administration continues to target noncitizens in higher education.
The university said in a Wednesday statement that the student was recently "detained off campus by federal immigration authorities." Due to federal privacy laws, the college couldn't reveal any more about the case, but it added that international students are "valued members of the campus community."
The Crimson White, the university's newspaper, reported that the man is Iranian national Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral candidate studying mechanical engineering. He was arrested at home at 5 a.m. ET Tuesday, the newspaper reported.
According to records available on ICE’s website, Doroudi was being held Saturday in the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana.
It is unclear why he was detained and what charges he may face.
David Rozas, an attorney representing Doroudi, said in a statement Saturday that they are "confused" about why Doroudi was detained. Doroudi has maintained lawful status while studying at the university, Rozas said.
"We have not been made aware of any allegations of misconduct against my client," Rozas said. "We do not believe he is suspected to have committed any crimes nor participated in any political activities whatsoever."
He said Doroudi has a pending EB-2 application, a pathway to a green card for immigrants who hold an advanced degree or have "exceptional ability."
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in an emailed statement: "ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Department’s revocation of Doroudi’s student visa. This individual posed significant national security concerns."
The University of Alabama College Democrats said in a Wednesday statement that it was aware of Doroudi's arrest and detainment, calling the news a bitter blow to the campus community.
"Our fears have come to pass. Donald Trump, Tom Homan and ICE have struck a cold, vicious dagger through the heart of UA's international community," the group said. "As far as we know right now, ICE is yet to provide any justification for their actions, so we are not sure if this persecution is politically motivated, as has been seen in other universities around the country."
The news of Doroudi's detainment comes a day after a video emerged showing Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student from Turkey, being arrested in the street in Massachusetts by ICE officers. The DHS said she was arrested for "glorifying and supporting terrorists" and added that she had shown support for Hamas, the Palestinian political party and militant group.
Several other students and recent graduates have been seized or have had federal warrants issued for their arrest in recent weeks, including Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who is being held in Louisiana and faces deportation despite holding a green card. Columbia student Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old permanent U.S. resident, also faces a deportation order but a judge ruled this week that she cannot be detained.
