In a troubling development, the University of Minnesota confirmed the detention of another international graduate student by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday. This detainment has sparked widespread concern among local, state, and national leaders, who are demanding immediate answers from immigration authorities.
The Detainment and Unanswered Questions
According to a letter shared by the university on Friday, the student, enrolled at the university’s Twin Cities campus, was detained at an off-campus residence. Despite the university’s efforts to gather more information, many questions remain unanswered.
It is unclear what the student has been accused of, their immigration status, or even where they are being held. The university has opted not to disclose the student’s identity, although officials have described the incident as “a deeply concerning situation.”
Due to privacy laws, a university spokesperson declined to offer further details, leaving the community in the dark about the circumstances surrounding the detainment.
A Growing Trend of Detentions
This latest case comes amid a troubling pattern of detentions involving foreign nationals studying at prestigious U.S. universities. These arrests are part of a broader crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration. Over the past few years, the academic community has witnessed a sharp increase in the detainment and deportation of students and scholars, raising concerns about academic freedom and the potential chilling effect on free speech.
Similar incidents have occurred at other major universities. For example, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist at Columbia University, was arrested outside his New York apartment and later transferred to a detention center in Louisiana. Similarly, Georgetown University doctoral student Khan Suri, an Indian national, was detained by ICE officials in Virginia and eventually moved to a detention facility in Texas. These cases highlight a disturbing trend where students are arrested near their homes, and their whereabouts remain unknown for extended periods.
The Silence from ICE and Growing Outrage
The silence from ICE regarding the University of Minnesota student’s detainment has sparked frustration and confusion. Both local and state leaders are demanding clarity.
Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his concern on social media, stating that his office is in contact with the university and working to get more information about the case. Education and research at the University of Minnesota attract students and researchers from around the world while we still seek understanding regarding the outbreak of HIV on campus. Walz expressed this need in his message.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed these sentiments, calling the detainment “deeply troubling” and stressing that educational environments must be safe for students to learn and grow without fear.
State Senator Doron Clark, representing the University of Minnesota area, expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from federal authorities. “We don’t know where the student is, we don’t know the student’s name, we just don’t know what happened,” Clark said. “It’s maddening and frightening, and it shows a disturbing lack of communication.”
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University of Minnesota’s Stance
The University of Minnesota has made it clear that it had no prior knowledge of the student’s detainment and did not inform federal authorities before the arrest took place. According to the university, its campus departments, including the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD), do not enforce federal immigration laws, and university officers do not inquire about individuals’ immigration status.
The university’s leadership is currently working to understand more about the situation and support the student and their family, though many concerns remain unresolved.
