University of Minnesota Graduate Student Detained by ICE: Students and Unions Unite in Response

MINNEAPOLIS — On Saturday, March 29, around 100 union members took to the streets in downtown Minneapolis. They were protesting after news broke that an international graduate student had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The gathering coincided with a conference held by United Electrical locals from various institutions, including Stanford and MIT.

The march led to Marquette Plaza, right next to a federal immigration office. Abaki Beck, president of GLU-UE Local 1105 (the University of Minnesota’s graduate employee union), voiced the collective sentiment: “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. We stand strong in defending our fellow international graduate workers.”

Carl Rosen, president of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, emphasized the important contributions that international students make to universities and the economy. He expressed concern that policies may discourage future students from coming to the U.S. “Doesn’t it say something shameful about America if people are too afraid to study here?” he asked.

As of now, there’s little information about the specific circumstances behind the student’s detainment. University officials only revealed that the student was taken from an off-campus residence and had studied at the Carlson School of Management. University spokesperson Jake Ricker mentioned that the University is following the student’s lead regarding privacy concerns and providing unspecified support during this difficult time.

The situation highlights a troubling trend. According to statistics from the American Council on Education, there has been a significant rise in the number of international students afraid of deportation. Many are opting to leave the U.S. voluntarily rather than risk detention.

At the rally, attendees voiced their solidarity with other students like Mahmoud Khalil from Columbia University and Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts, who faced similar fates. U of M senior Noora Ahmed reflected on the fear felt by many students involved in activism, particularly those expressing support for Palestine. “It’s worrying,” she stated. “We want everyone to voice their opinions on human rights, but they fear deportation or even losing their degrees.”

Ahmed is part of Students for Justice in Palestine and stressed the need for U of M leadership to protect students’ rights to free speech. She highlighted efforts to educate fellow students about their rights and the emotional toll that such fears take on organized activism.

As this situation unfolds, the safety and rights of international students remain a pressing concern for many.

For more information on international student experiences and policies affecting them, you can visit the American Council on Education’s website.

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