MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Protesters have gathered outside the Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building following the detention of a University of Minnesota international graduate student by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Thursday. Local and national leaders are calling for urgent answers regarding the incident.
The University of Minnesota announced the detention in a statement released on Friday. According to school officials, the student was taken from an off-campus residence, but details about the student’s legal status, the accusations against them, and their current location remain unclear.
In their letter, university officials described the situation as “deeply concerning” but did not disclose the student’s identity, referencing privacy obligations under state and federal law. “We are actively working to gather more information related to this incident,” the statement read.
This detainment adds to a series of arrests involving students from prestigious American universities, which happened amid heightened immigration enforcement under the previous administration. The ongoing crackdown has raised alarm about the potential infringement on free speech and the safety of international students.
The exact whereabouts of the detained student are not known, mirroring similar cases this month where students were taken from their homes, leading to delays in communication about their locations. Mahmoud Abdel-Salam, a Palestinian activist at Columbia University, was taken from his New York apartment last month and transported across state lines. His wife, Noor Abdalla, expressed her fears: “I felt like Mahmoud had been kidnapped from our home, and no one could tell me where he was or what was happening to him.”
Khan Suri, an Indian national studying for his doctorate at Georgetown University, faced a similar fate. He was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, and transferred from facility to facility, ultimately ending up in Louisiana. “ICE agents came in the night, took him captive, away from his family and lawyers,” said his attorney, Nermeen Arastu.
A Tufts University PhD student also experienced a troubling detainment near her Massachusetts home before being moved to Louisiana, with friends and family unable to contact her for about 24 hours. These cases have raised concerns about safety and legal representation for students caught in such situations.
The Department of Homeland Security has refrained from commenting on the specifics of the University of Minnesota case, redirecting inquiries to ICE, which has not responded to requests from news outlets. An attorney representing the detained student characterized the situation as “highly sensitive” but confirmed they are in contact with the student, though the timeline of that communication remains uncertain.
In response to the incident, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar stated on social media that her office is collaborating with university officials to obtain more information regarding the case. “The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research, and we need answers,” she emphasized.
University officials confirmed they were not notified in advance of the student’s detainment, which raises questions about federal engagement with local educational institutions. The letter reassured the community that the University of Minnesota Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws.
Local leaders have also voiced their concerns. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey remarked, “The detainment of a U of M student is deeply troubling. Educational environments must be places where all students can focus on learning and growing without fear.”
“We are in dire need of information and a rapid response from our leaders about safeguarding the rights of everyone in our community,” urged Democratic state Sen. Doron Clark, who represents parts of the university area. He emphasized the disconcerting lack of information surrounding the situation, expressing dissatisfaction with the federal government’s opacity regarding such critical matters.
