On Monday afternoon, over 150 people, mixed with community members and University of Alabama students, gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Richard Shelby Federal Building & Courthouse, calling for Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to release their classmate and student, Alireza Doroudi. Doroudi, a mechanical engineering doctoral student from Iran, was moved from the Pickens County Jail to the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana last week. ICE detained him from his off-campus house because he "posed significant national security concerns," according to a Department of Homeland Security statement. His lawyer said they have not been told of any concerns and he now must seek a bond while fighting his case or seek asylum from a federal judge. UA College Democrats organized the protest. Members said Doroudi is a husband and should be allowed to finish his education in the United States because he has an active I-20/SEVIS status at the university. "That's a common misconception. While his visa was revoked, he was still a legal resident here under I-20. And that's what we want people to understand is, you know, this wasn't an illegal alien. This this was a man who was a legal resident and a great student here that we're losing," Christian Martin, the political director for UA College Democrats, said.Student organizers tell 米兰体育 13 not everyone knew Doroudi personally, but they've seen him on campus, adding just because they didn't know him well doesn't mean the community can't support him.Martin said, 鈥淲ith us being one of the more conservative campuses in the nation, it's not going to be as big as, say, Tufts or Columbia or Harvard, but we've got, I think, good support here. We haven't had any negative messages, only positive. So yeah, I think I think people are very receptive of it overall." In a statement given to 米兰体育 13 on March 26, university officials stated that they were aware that a doctoral student, whose name they did not release, had been detained off campus."International students studying at the University are valued members of the campus community, and International Student and Scholar Services is available to assist international students who have questions," the statement read. "UA has and will continue to follow all immigration laws and cooperate with federal authorities."Students at the protest called for transparency from the university leadership."He鈥檚 a human being and I鈥檓 a human; and when human beings are in distress and oppressed, I want to be there to defend them," said Drew Scharfenberg.He's a member of the Party of Socialism & Liberation Birmingham chapter, the protester says it's important for others to speak out against oppression no matter who it's affecting. ICE arrests under the Trump AdministrationWhen President Donald Trump took office, he began issuing a record number of executive orders, with many centering on the nation's immigration and border enforcement policies.These orders range from the ending of birthright citizenship to expanded use of expedited removals. They also address people seeking refuge or asylum 鈥� with an order to end the U.S. refugee program and the halting of an app used by migrants to make appointments before arriving at the border. Another order focuses on the deployment of resources, specifically the military, to border enforcement. While several of these orders have been either fully or partially blocked by federal judges, fear has taken hold in immigrant communities across the United States. Immigrants across the U.S. are avoiding places like work or school due to fears of ICE raids after an executive order removed rules against federal immigration organizations from entering locations like schools, churches and more. Arrests, however, don't necessarily equate to deportation.CjxzY3JpcHQgdHlwZT0idGV4dC9qYXZhc2NyaXB0Ij4hZnVuY3Rpb24oKXsidXNlIHN0cmljdCI7d2luZG93LmFkZEV2ZW50TGlzdGVuZXIoIm1lc3NhZ2UiLChmdW5jdGlvbihlKXtpZih2b2lkIDAhPT1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKXt2YXIgdD1kb2N1bWVudC5xdWVyeVNlbGVjdG9yQWxsKCJpZnJhbWUiKTtmb3IodmFyIGEgaW4gZS5kYXRhWyJkYXRhd3JhcHBlci1oZWlnaHQiXSlmb3IodmFyIHI9MDtyPHQubGVuZ3RoO3IrKyl7aWYodFtyXS5jb250ZW50V2luZG93PT09ZS5zb3VyY2UpdFtyXS5zdHlsZS5oZWlnaHQ9ZS5kYXRhWyJkYXRhd3JhcHBlci1oZWlnaHQiXVthXSsicHgifX19KSl9KCk7PC9zY3JpcHQ+This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the 米兰体育 13 app. You can download it here.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Monday afternoon, over 150 people, mixed with community members and University of Alabama students, gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Richard Shelby Federal Building & Courthouse, calling for Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to release their classmate and student, Alireza Doroudi.
Doroudi, a mechanical engineering doctoral student from Iran, was moved from the Pickens County Jail to the last week. ICE detained him from his off-campus house because he "posed significant national security concerns," according to a Department of Homeland Security statement.
His lawyer said they have not been told of any concerns and he now must seek a bond while fighting his case or seek asylum from a federal judge.
UA College Democrats organized the protest. Members said Doroudi is a husband and should be allowed to finish his education in the United States because he has an active I-20/SEVIS status at the university.
"That's a common misconception. While his visa was revoked, he was still a legal resident here under I-20. And that's what we want people to understand is, you know, this wasn't an illegal alien. This this was a man who was a legal resident and a great student here that we're losing," Christian Martin, the political director for UA College Democrats, said.
Student organizers tell 米兰体育 13 not everyone knew Doroudi personally, but they've seen him on campus, adding just because they didn't know him well doesn't mean the community can't support him.
Martin said, 鈥淲ith us being one of the more conservative campuses in the nation, it's not going to be as big as, say, Tufts or Columbia or Harvard, but we've got, I think, good support here. We haven't had any negative messages, only positive. So yeah, I think I think people are very receptive of it overall."
In a statement given to 米兰体育 13 on March 26, university officials stated that they were aware that a doctoral student, whose name they did not release, had been detained off campus.
"International students studying at the University are valued members of the campus community, and International Student and Scholar Services is available to assist international students who have questions," the statement read. "UA has and will continue to follow all immigration laws and cooperate with federal authorities."
Students at the protest called for transparency from the university leadership.
"He鈥檚 a human being and I鈥檓 a human; and when human beings are in distress and oppressed, I want to be there to defend them," said Drew Scharfenberg.
He's a member of the Party of Socialism & Liberation Birmingham chapter, the protester says it's important for others to speak out against oppression no matter who it's affecting.
ICE arrests under the Trump Administration
When President Donald Trump took office, he began issuing a record number of executive orders, with many centering on the nation's immigration and border enforcement policies.
These orders range from the ending of birthright citizenship to expanded use of expedited removals. They also address people seeking refuge or asylum 鈥� with an order to end the U.S. refugee program and the halting of an app used by migrants to make appointments before arriving at the border. Another order focuses on the deployment of resources, , to border enforcement.
While several of these orders have been either fully or partially blocked by federal judges, fear has taken hold in immigrant communities across the United States. Immigrants across the U.S. are like work or school due to fears of ICE raids after an executive order removed rules against federal immigration organizations from entering locations like . Arrests, however, don't necessarily equate to deportation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the 米兰体育 13 app. You can download it here.
