In a recent update, a University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduate student was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The student was detained at an off-campus residence on Thursday, according to a letter sent by the university to its students, staff, and faculty. The letter stated that the university is actively working to gather more details about the incident and, in such cases, takes steps to ensure that affected students have access to internal support resources such as student legal service and international student and scholar services, as reported by CBS News.
The school stated it was unaware of the incident beforehand and did not share any details with federal authorities prior to the detainment. According to the university’s federal immigration policies, its public safety departments do not enforce federal immigration laws, and officers are not permitted to inquire about an individual’s immigration status.
“As has been the University’s pledge over the years, we are fully committed to keeping all members of our community who are affected by immigration policies safe and well-informed so they can best navigate their responsibilities in compliance with law and policy,” the school said, as reported by CBS News.
This incident is not isolated. People with ties to American universities, most of whom have shown support for pro-Palestinian causes, have been detained in the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, as reported by the Associated Press. President Donald Trump and other officials have accused protesters and others of being “pro-Hamas,” referring to the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as reported by the Associated Press. Many protesters have said they were speaking out against Israel’s actions in the war against Hamas in Gaza, as reported by the Associated Press.
Trump’s administration has cited a seldom-invoked statute authorizing the Secretary of State to revoke visas of noncitizens who could be considered a threat to foreign policy interests. More than half a dozen people are known to have been taken into custody or deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in recent weeks, as reported by the Associated Press.
The university has reassured its community that it will continue to support all affected individuals and closely monitor the situation, as reported by CBS News. Campus leaders emphasize that the safety and well-being of students remain the top priority. Further updates and clarifications are expected in the coming days,