University of Minnesota student detained by ICE, officials demand answers
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Local and national leaders are calling on authorities to explain the detention of an international student from the University of Minnesota, reports CNN.
The University of Minnesota reported that an international graduate student was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday.
A letter to the university community published on Friday stated that the detention took place in a residential area off campus. The university administration is currently working to gather more information about the incident.
According to university representatives, the student’s identity is not being disclosed for privacy reasons. The reasons for the detention, the student’s visa status, and their current location remain unknown. In the letter, the administration called the incident "a deeply concerning situation."
Minnesota state leaders have called on federal authorities to explain the reasons behind the detention. Governor Tim Walz said, "I just spoke with representatives of the Department of Homeland Security and will share new information as soon as it becomes available. The University of Minnesota is an international educational center, and we need answers."
Leaders demand transparency from ICE
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also expressed concern: "The detention of a University of Minnesota student raises serious questions. Educational institutions should be places where students can learn and grow without fear."
State Senator Doron Clark emphasized the lack of information: "We don’t know the student’s name, where they are being held, or why they were detained, and federal authorities are not providing any details. This situation is alarming and confusing." Senator Omar Fateh also called for urgent answers: "We must protect all members of our community."
While ICE has not commented on the situation, the University of Minnesota stressed that local public safety services do not participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
This case is reminiscent of the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, an activist and graduate student at Columbia University. In early March, ICE detained Khalil near his home in New York and transferred him to Louisiana, while his family remained unaware of his whereabouts and the reasons for his detention for a long time.
This arrest, like many other cases involving international students, has led many international students to reconsider studying in the US as immigration fears rise under the Trump administration.
