Homeland Security provides insight into ICE, HSI arrest protocols following Alireza Doroudi arrest

Yahoo

05-04-2025

TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – A Homeland Security Special Agent provided insight into ICE and HSI arrest protocols. This comes following the release of surveillance video CBS 42 obtained on Thursday that shows Alireza Doroudi being escorted by federal agents.
Alireza Doroudi was a doctoral student and the University of Alabama studying chemical engineering. Doroudi is an international student from Iran, who is now sitting in an ICE detention center in Louisiana.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 25, a fleet of unmarked vehicles drove down Reed Street, parked around Doroudi's apartment, and multiple officers in what appears to be street clothes under bullet proof vest approached the doctoral student's apartment.
'We have special response teams within HSI and ICE EROs,' Homeland Security investigation special agent Steven Schrank said. 'They are tactical SRTs that are much like swats teams that handle our highest risk operations.'
Those swat-like teams are the ones who go in when the individual being arrested has violent criminal history or is deemed a national security risk, Schrank said.
WATCH: Video shows Alireza Doroudi being detained by ICE officers at his apartment near the University of Alabama
In the video CBS 42 obtained Tuesday, it appears the officers who detained Doroudi would fall under the special response teams category. However, CBS 42 has not found any violent criminal history record for the Iran national. But, ICE has deemed the PhD student a national security concern.
'Honestly, I'm reminded of the type of stuff we report on happening on the inside of Iran,' Jamal Addi said.
Addi is the National Iranian American Council President. On Friday, he watched the surveillance video CBS 42 obtained for the first time.
'This whole situation is just scary and bizarre,' Addi said.
Doroudi remained unrestrained as he walked alongside federal agents down Reed Street.
'Being called a national security threat but then walking out freely on his own with them and getting into an unmarked vehicle with them – it just raises so many questions,' Addi said.
While the number of officers, vehicles, and force is dependent on the level of threat – HIS and ICE are not required to use handcuffs during the arrest process.
'It may be the case that agents and officers did not feel it was necessary or prudent,' Schrank said.
Not wanting to cause disruptions, embarrassment or unsightliness out in public are other reasons Schrank cited as to why officers chose not to handcuff Doroudi. Doroudi's attorney and ICE have yet to provide why the student was deemed a national security concern.
'It may be a limited disclosure through a FOIA request,' Schrank said. 'Part of that is because we need to respect the privacy of individuals and we can't just share with the general public the nature of information that may lead to decisions to take certain enforcement actions.'
However, the NIAC's president believes the relationship between the United States and Iran played a larger role in Doroudi's detainment.
'Because of the U.S. government and Iranian government conflict with one another, and because of the nefarious activities of the Iranian government – we would expect if there are crackdowns like this, then Iranians could be among the first that are targeted,' Addi said.
During President Donald Trump's first term in office – Iran was on the travel ban list and Iranians are already heavily scrutinized in the U.S. Addi said.
'I think one of our fears though is, we're starting with students who are legally here, who are uploading the law but does this expand?' Addi questioned.
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