US immigration detains Iranian PhD student in Alabama

University officials confirmed that Alireza Doroudi, a PhD student in mechanical engineering, was arrested off-campus by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reason for Doroudi’s detention has not been made public.

Doroudi, an Iranian citizen, was in the US on a student visa and specialized in metallurgical engineering, according to public records.

In a statement, the University of Alabama College Democrats described the arrest as a “cold, vicious dagger through the heart of UA’s international community,” and said ICE had yet to provide any justification. “Our fears have come to pass,” the group added.

Doroudi’s detention also comes as the Trump administration considers new travel restrictions that could fully suspend visa issuance for citizens of countries including Iran. If implemented, the policy would block legal entry for Iranian nationals and further tighten immigration rules.

In February, several Iranians deported by US authorities were sent to detention centers in Panama, where they reported harsh conditions and limited access to food, medicine, and legal aid. Advocacy groups have warned that deported Iranians, including religious minorities, face risk of persecution.

The arrest follows detentions at other US universities. This week, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University was taken into ICE custody after being accused by the Department of Homeland Security of supporting Hamas.

Earlier this month, Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate and organizer of pro-Palestinian campus protests, was arrested by immigration officers in New York. Khalil is a US permanent resident.