Minnesota University graduate student detained by ICE agents

A graduate student of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has been detained by the US immigration and customs enforcement, as confirmed by university officials.
The university communicated to its community through a letter that the student was apprehended at a residence away from campus on Thursday.
"We are actively working to gather more details about this incident," the letter said. "In cases like this, the University takes steps to ensure students are connected to internal resources and support, such as Student Legal Service and International Student and Scholar Services."

The institution clarified that it was unaware of the situation beforehand and had not provided any information to federal authorities prior to the arrest.
Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, in a post on X, said, "I just spoke with Homeland Security to get more information and I will share when I learn more. The

University of Minnesota

is an international destination for education and research. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers."

The communication was jointly issued by university president Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips and Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramírez Fernández.
The university's established federal

immigration policies

specify that its public safety departments are not responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, and their officers do not enquire about 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.
State Senator

Doron Clark

, DFL-Minneapolis, expressed his distress and frustration about the federal agency's activities near the university in a written statement, CBS news reported.
"Our campuses should be a safe place for all students, staff, and visitors," Clark said.
The arrest follows other incidents in which ICE targeted

international students

or scholars at American universities. All the three cases specifically involving Columbia University students. Additional detentions or attempted arrests occurred at Brown University, Tufts University, Cornell University and the University of Alabama.
Civil liberties groups expressed concern over the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and Columbia University graduate whose green card was cancelled.
Several of these incidents appeared to be connected to the students' participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or their written expressions during the previous year.
Khalil, born to Palestinian refugees in Syria and wed to an American citizen, is currently challenging the government's deportation proceedings in federal court.