A University of Alabama student who was singled out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) experienced this, and here is how the university responded.
Around three in the morning on Tuesday, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) section arrested (Alireza) Doroudi, an Iranian national who was enrolled in the University of Alabama to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering. The University of Alabama has not elaborated on the circumstances. After first saying that the institution was working with immigration officials, spokesperson Alex House did not reply to messages on Friday. House did not mention whether Doroudi was receiving any help from the institution. Reflector of Alabama, March 28, 2025
In order to avoid needless and protracted detention, Mr. Doroudi made the tough decision to request and be permitted a voluntary departure and return to Iran. “I love this country, but they don’t want me here, so I will go home,” he added, turning to face me. — Alireza Douroudi’s lawyer, David Rozas, May 8, 2025
Having only received traffic tickets, Douroudi was charged with a crime for which the government later acknowledged it lacked proof. I’m not aware of any statements made by the University of Alabama in support of Douroudi. President Donald Trump, who wrote about Douroudi’s plight, was invited to speak at UA while Douroudi was incarcerated in Louisiana. He told his fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, that his mental, physical, and hearing conditions were all deteriorating while he was being held captive, according to The New York Times.
