A graduate student from the University of Minnesota was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Thursday at an off-campus residence. The school, in a statement signed by President Rebecca Cunningham and other officials, expressed concern over the incident, which left many internation students on campus anxious.
The detained student is enrolled at the Carlson School of Management, but details about their nationality visa status, and reasons for detainment remain unclear. The university emphasized that it had no prior knowledge of detention and did not share nay information with federal authorities beforehand. Local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, voiced concerns about the lack of transparency and the impact of such incidents on the educational environment.
This arrest follows a series of similar detentions of internation students across the U.S. and has heightened fears of federal actions targeting students, especially those linked to certain political causes. In response, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee held a “Know Your Rights” workshop to help student navigate the uncertainty. Many are calling for more clarity and communication from federal authorities regarding these detentions.
References:
Cohen, Rebecca. Atkins, Chloe. “University of Minnesota says ICE detained graduate student” NBC News. March 29, 2025.
