Federal officials said Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had arrested a University of Minnesota graduate student for a drunk driving offense rather than for participating in protests.
“This is not related to student protests,” the Department of Homeland Security stated. “The individual in question was arrested after a visa revocation by the State Dept. related to a prior criminal history for a DUI.”
Students protested after learning of the student’s arrest and the absence of an official explanation, and academic and political authorities also voiced their concerns.
On Monday, Governor Tim Walz informed reporters that he had discussed it with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday and was awaiting more information.
On Monday, Minnesota State University Mankato administrators said that ICE had also detained one of their students.
The student was arrested Friday at an off-campus apartment, according to a message from President Edward Inch to the college community.
“No reason was given. The University has received no information from ICE, and they have not requested any information from us,” Inch stated. “I have contacted our elected officials to share my concerns and ask for their help in stopping this activity within our community of learners.”
The student’s name, nationality, and subject of study were not disclosed by the Mankato school.
“This is becoming a deeply concerning pattern, where ICE detains students with little to no explanation … and ignores their rights to due process,” U.S. Sen. Tina Smith stated. “I will keep pressing the administration for answers about these arrests and work to get answers from federal immigration authorities about this case.”
The student at the University of Minnesota has also not been identified.
The teenager was a student at the Minneapolis branch of the business school and was arrested Thursday at an off-campus house.
Andria Waclawski, a university spokesperson, stated that there were no new developments as of Monday.
She had previously stated that they were giving the student legal aid and other resources while also taking the student’s lead and honoring their wish for privacy.
“A deep concern is, here, that no matter what the situation was, in this country, everyone has due process rights and our concern is whether those due process rights are being followed,” the governor stated on Monday.
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The Trump administration has pointed to a rarely used law that gives the secretary of state the power to cancel the visas of foreign nationals who might pose a threat to foreign policy objectives.
It is known that in recent weeks, over six individuals with connections to colleges have been arrested or deported.
During demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza on campuses, the majority of those imprisoned have expressed support for Palestinian concerns.
This information has been sourced from NBC News.
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