University of Alabama doctoral student detained by immigration authorities

Federal immigration agents have detained Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering from Iran, at the University of Alabama. The university confirmed the detention in a brief statement, emphasizing limited details due to federal privacy laws.Doroudi, described on his LinkedIn profile as a "trained metallurgy engineer with over ten years of academic experience," is currently being held in an undisclosed detention facility. The reason for his detention remains unclear.The university expressed support for its international students, stating that the International Student and Scholar Services is available to assist those with questions. They also affirmed their commitment to following immigration laws and cooperating with federal authorities.This detention is part of a recent pattern of immigration enforcement actions targeting international students. Notable recent cases include:

• Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University PhD student from Turkey, arrested while heading to break her Ramadan fast
• Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist from Columbia University, detained by ICE
• Leqaa Korda, another Columbia University student, arrested for allegedly overstaying her visa

President Donald Trump has been vocal about these arrests, describing them as part of a broader effort to remove what he calls "terrorist sympathizers" from the country.The increasing number of such detentions has raised concerns within academic communities about the treatment of international students and the potential impact on academic freedom and diversity in higher education.As of now, it remains uncertain whether Doroudi has secured legal representation or the specific circumstances leading to his detention.