ICE detainee and University of Alabama student goes back to his country
"I love this country, but they don鈥檛 want me here so I will go home," were the words shared by Alireza Doroudi before his return trip to Iran.
Doroudi was arrested and detained by federal immigration agents about a month ago, who labeled him a national security threat. He was held in a Louisiana facility while his case was reviewed in immigration court. The native Iranian was enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Alabama when he was arrested.
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In a statement released by Doroudi's own attorney, the decision to return to his native Iran was his alone.
Statement by David Rozas, Doroudi's attorney:
鈥淵esterday, June 1, 2025, Alireza Doroudi left the United States to return to Iran. His choice was made in response to a system that failed to uphold fairness, transparency, and due process.
For weeks, Mr. Doroudi was held in detention without any substantiated evidence presented to justify the initial claims of national security concerns. Despite having no history of protest or political activity, and despite documentation indicating that his F-1 student visa remained valid until departure, Mr. Doroudi was denied bond and subjected to legal proceedings riddled with delay and contradiction.
Following his May 8 hearing before Judge Maithe Gonzalez, Mr. Doroudi made the difficult decision to request voluntary departure. It was a heartbreaking moment. He turned and said, 鈥淚 love this country, but they don鈥檛 want me here so I will go home.鈥�
At that hearing, even the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that the central charge of visa revocation did not apply while he remained in the United States, and indicated their intent to drop the charge altogether. Yet, the court delayed action, requiring additional filings despite repeated requests and mounting evidence in his favor.
Mr. Doroudi鈥檚 return is a warning. When individuals are detained without evidence, forced to disprove unfounded allegations, and pressured to leave a country they sought to contribute to, we must ask: What message are we sending to international students? To immigrant communities? To those who believe in the promise of American justice?
This was not justice. This was attrition by detention. And it should never have come to this.
As a defense lawyer, I remain committed to seeking accountability for the failures that led to this outcome, and to ensuring that what happened to Mr. Doroudi does not happen again."
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