Latest news with #Doroudi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Alireza Doroudi flies back to Iran 3 months after being detained by ICE outside University of Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Alireza Doroudi, a mechanical engineering student who was a year away from finishing his doctorate degree at the University of Alabama, has left the country and gone back home to Iran, three months after immigration officers took him from his apartment in Tuscaloosa and held him in a detention facility in Louisiana. Doroudi, 32, left the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana over the weekend and left the United States on Sunday, his attorney confirmed to CBS 42 Monday. Prior to the weekend, Doroudi had been held by ICE for 68 days, beginning on March 25, when several officers went to his apartment in the early morning hours to detain him on charges of living in the country on a revoked visa. From there, he was held in detention in Louisiana with 1,200 other people. Despite being labeled a national security risk by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, prosecutors never provided any evidence to back up their claims. In addition, attorney David Rozas said Doroudi's SEVIS status was still clear and he could have legally remained in the country as long as he remained a student. On May 8, Doroudi told the immigration court that he would deport himself back to Iran, his attorneys and family later citing the physical, mental and emotional drain being in detainment had caused him over several months. Rozas, who has defended Doroudi since his arrest, released the following statement Monday morning: 'Yesterday, 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, 'I love this country, but they don't want me here so I will go home.' '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's 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.' Doroudi, who is engaged and was in the middle of planning his wedding at the time of his arrest, was expected to complete his degree from UA next year. In fact, a research paper he co-wrote with different colleagues, 'A review of the effects of laser peening on creep properties,' was published in April while he was locked up. Attempts to reach Doroudi were not successful Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welcome to the University of Alabama! Hope some of you have an attorney.
A sunset over the Denny Chimes on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL Thursday June 20, 2024. Federal officials detained Alireza Douroudi, a University of Alabama graduate student, in March on charges attorneys for the government later said they had no evidence for. After weeks in confinement, Douroudi told a judge he would voluntarily return to his home country, Iran.(Will McLelland/Alabama Reflector) This is what happened to a University of Alabama student targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and how the university reacted. (Alireza) Doroudi, an Iranian national pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering (at the University of Alabama), was taken into custody by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit on Tuesday around 3 a.m… The University of Alabama has not provided further details about the situation. Spokesperson Alex House did not respond to messages Friday after initially stating that the university was cooperating with immigration authorities. House did not address whether the university was offering Doroudi any assistance. — Alabama Reflector, March 28, 2025 'Mr. Doroudi made the difficult decision to ask for and was granted voluntary departure and return to Iran in order to avoid prolonged and unnecessary detention. He turned and looked at me and said, 'I love this country, but they don't want me here, so I will go home.'' — David Rozas, attorney for Alireza Douroudi, May 8, 2025 Douroudi, with nothing more than traffic citations on his record, faced a charge that the government eventually admitted it had no evidence for. If the University of Alabama ever said anything in defense of Douroudi, I'm not aware of it. UA did welcome President Donald Trump, the author of Douroudi's ordeal, to speak on campus while Douroudi languished in a Louisiana prison. According to The New York Times, he told his fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, that his vision, hearing and mental health were all suffering during his detention. In light of that, here's how the university should welcome future freshmen. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Dear incoming student, Welcome to the University of Alabama! We're delighted that you're joining our community of over 40,000 students. We hope your time here will allow you to grow personally and academically. Moving to a new campus can be stressful. Here are some ways you can make the journey easier. – Pack light. Take only what you need. Don't bring groceries or other food; you can pick that up in one of Tuscaloosa's supermarkets. – Plan ahead. Talk to your roommates ahead of time to decide who will bring big items to be shared by all, like televisions or criminal attorneys. – Label boxes. Moving can feel chaotic. Be sure you can track your packages should a law enforcement officer confiscate them. Here are some items we recommend bringing: Appropriate clothing – it gets hot here in August! Academic supplies (pens, notebooks, legal pads, etc.) Bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets) Clothing for court (we recommend business attire in neutral tones) Desk lamp, desk organizer File cabinet PACER subscription Predrafted habeas corpus brief Towels One note: hanging items on your walls inappropriately could lead to a damage charge. Please consult the management of your dormitory or apartment building on the best way to display your citizenship or residency papers. Campus life Your time at Alabama will lead to friendships that last a lifetime and memories you'll always cherish. And they'll be your own, whether it's cheering for the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium or getting accosted by a man in a balaclava claiming to be a federal official. UA prides itself on the range of activities it offers students. Get On Board Day showcases all of our wonderful student organizations. Be sure to check it out! We're working hard to create spaces where students engage in stilted conversations and worry nonstop that one of their colleagues is an informant. And don't forget Alabama's latest, proudest tradition, the PreDawn Knock. Are you one of our 1,200 international students? Maybe you'll get to frantically call your attorney as Immigration and Customs Enforcement breaks down your door. (We do not recommend calling administration or general counsel if you find yourself in jail. It is the University of Alabama's policy to be indifferent to our students' safety.) Academics With over 200 major or minor subjects to study, you're certain to find something to match your academic interests. Take special note of our criminology classes. UA offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the nation's law enforcement seize students on thin pretexts. For parents Watching your child leave for college can be an emotional experience. Perhaps you're worried about how they'll adjust to a new environment, or if they'll be shipped without warning to an out-of-state prison. These are normal concerns for any new Alabama student. False imprisonment is one of the many experiences we offer our students. Questions? If you have any questions about classes, your dorms or why you're putting your life in our hands, don't hesitate to ask. We have staff available 24/7 to give you no comment. Welcome to Alabama! We're glad you're here. And don't step out of line. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
An Iranian Student in U.S. Detention Makes a Hard Choice: Stay or Go Home
On the 42nd day of his confinement at an immigration detention center in the pine woods of central Louisiana, Alireza Doroudi seemed to be on the verge of getting out. A few minutes before his latest immigration hearing last Thursday, the government said it was dropping one of the charges against him. Other international students who, like him, had been detained by the authorities were being released, one by one. But shortly before the hearing began, Mr. Doroudi's fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, one of the few people who had come to watch, was not hopeful. 'I don't think I can trust anything, to be honest,' she whispered. A native of Iran, Mr. Doroudi, 32, had been in the country doing doctoral work in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama. He had no run-ins with the law beyond a couple of traffic citations. But early in the morning on March 25, U.S. immigration agents showed up at Mr. Doroudi's apartment in Tuscaloosa and took him into custody. At the time of the arrest, authorities told the news media that Mr. Doroudi posed 'significant national security concerns.' They never elaborated, even in court, Mr. Doroudi's lawyer said. The charges against him only concerned his legal status as an international student. International students are given visas that allows them to enter the United States, where they then must follow certain rules to stay in the country legally. Mr. Doroudi's case involved two charges: that he was illegally in the country because his visa had been revoked, and that since then, he had failed to maintain legal status to remain in the United States. Mr. Doroudi's lawyer said the visa applied only to his entry into the country — that is, he could not now leave and come back — and that university records showed that he had never lost legal status, even throughout his detention. Nearly 2,000 students have had their visas canceled by the Trump administration, often related to minor violations, like speeding tickets. Students have challenged the revocations in court, and many visas were restored in recent weeks. Mr. Doroudi's case was different. His case was one of a handful where the Trump administration cited national security concerns. Some of those students had been outspoken about the Palestinian cause, but it was unclear how Mr. Doroudi, whose fiancée said he was not involved in politics, had drawn the notice of the federal government. The other cases had prompted protests over criticism that the Trump administration was violating civil rights. There was Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and a legal permanent resident who was detained in early March. And Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University student, who was being held in a detention facility in southern Louisiana. Ms. Ozturk, who was apparently targeted because of a pro-Palestinian essay she co-wrote, was ordered to be released by a federal judge on Friday and walked out of detention to cheering supporters and assembled media. Mr. Doroudi's case did not attract the same attention. Hs lawyer, David Rozas, one of Louisiana's few immigration layers, had urged him to fight his detention in federal court. Mr. Doroudi did not want to. He missed his studies and was not doing well spending his days in a loud group dormitory behind fences and razor wire, his fiancée said. He told her that his vision and hearing were deteriorating, and that his mental health was suffering. And he had grown convinced, his lawyer said, that no matter what happened, the authorities would never let him out. Mr. Rozas said he had been seeing this more and more from clients in detention. People with strong cases for release, some of whom had lived in the United States for years, were giving up, as hearings were delayed for weeks and as they got the feeling that the country simply did not want them. But as Mr. Rozas prepared to walk into the hearing for Mr. Doroudi on Thursday, he received an email with some good news. The government had acknowledged in a filing that it did not have evidence to support the charge Mr. Doroudi had been arrested on. It was possible that he could walk free that day. Courtroom 4, one of several immigration hearing rooms along a narrow hall inside the detention facility, was small, with walls of painted cinder block. The seven benches in the galley were almost empty. Ms. Bajgani entered and smiled at her fiancé, who sat at the defense table in loose prison clothes. He looked like he had lost weight, she whispered. Ms. Bajgani had been telling Mr. Doroudi's parents back in Iran, who were beside themselves with worry, that everything would work out. She was not sure she believed that anymore. 'I don't think this is very hopeful,' Ms. Bajgani said. Judge Maithe Gonzalez entered the courtroom. Within minutes, she said she would sustain the first charge against Mr. Doroudi and was ordering his removal. After some back and forth, and some prodding from Mr. Rozas, Numa Metoyer, a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, explained to the judge that the government had actually been planning to drop that charge, concerning the revocation of the visa. The lawyers had reviewed the evidence and found it did not apply in Mr. Doroudi's case utnil he left the country. But he said that a second charge was still viable, concerning Mr. Doroudi's current immigration status. Mr. Rozas leaned over to Mr. Doroudi. The second charge wouldn't stand, he whispered. His status was all in order. In federal court, 'you win, 100 percent,' he said. Mr. Doroudi shook his head. 'No, no, no,' he whispered. The judge insisted that the government put this into writing. She announced there would be another hearing in Mr. Doroudi's case, in two weeks. 'No, no,' Mr. Doroudi whispered. Mr. Rozas asked the judge if Mr. Doroudi could be released on bond, but the judge cut him off. 'That's not the way this works,' she said. Mr. Rozas looked at his client, and then turned to the judge. Mr. Doroudi was requesting to voluntarily leave the country. This was against his advice, Mr. Rozas said. But Mr. Doroudi had had enough. Judge Gonzalez asked Mr. Doroudi if this was really what he wanted. 'I came here for studying in one of the best countries in the world,' he began, but she cut him off. She told him he needed to answer yes or no. 'Honestly, I don't want to stay here anymore,' he said. 'This place is not good for me. I want to go home.' The judge interrupted again. Yes or no? 'Yes,' he said. Ms. Bajgani nodded her head in agreement. 'You have been granted the privilege of voluntarily departing the United States,' Judge Gonzalez said, and then went over some of the logistical details. 'Is this a final decision for you?' she asked. 'Thank you,' Mr. Doroudi said. 'Is that a yes?' 'Yes, your honor.' She then adjourned the court.
Los Angeles Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani and her fiance, Alireza Doroudi, had just spent an evening celebrating the Persian new year at the University of Alabama when seven armed immigration officers came to their apartment before dawn and arrested Doroudi. In a moment, the young couple's life was upended. 'I was living a normal life until that night. After that nothing is just normal,' Bajgani said. Details about Doroudi's detention spread through the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, where Bajgani and Doroudi are doctoral students. Other Iranian students say they have been informally advised by faculty to 'lay low' and 'be invisible' — instilling fear among a once vibrant cohort. Doroudi is among students across the U.S. who have been detained in recent weeks as part of President Trump's immigration crackdown. Bajgani said the couple does not know why Doroudi — who has no criminal record or public political views — faces deportation, adding that Trump's recent visit to the school made her feel like the university was 'ignorant of our crisis.' One Iranian civil engineering student and close friend to Doroudi said he has lost more than 10 pounds due to stress and depression in the six weeks since Doroudi was detained. 'It's like all of us are waiting for our turn. It could be every knock, every email could be deportation,' said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns about losing his legal status. He now avoids unnecessary trips outside. When he was in a car crash last month, he begged the other driver not to call the police, even though he wasn't at fault, because he didn't want to draw attention to himself. Bajgani said Doroudi, 32, is an ambitious mechanical engineering student from Shiraz, Iran. He entered the United States legally in January 2023 on a student visa. Bajgani said he often worked 60-hour weeks while still making time to run errands for loved ones. 'If someone like him doesn't get to the place he deserves, there is nothing called the American dream,' she said. Doroudi's visa was revoked in June 2023, but the embassy didn't provide a reason and ignored his inquiries, Bajgani said. The university told him he could stay as long as he remained a student but that he would not be allowed to reenter the U.S. if he left, she said. He was operating under that guidance when immigration officers came to the couple's door in March. The University of Alabama didn't comment on Doroudi's case, but said it offers resources to help immigrants on campus comply with federal law. It also offers guidance to students whose visas are revoked. 'Our international students are valued members of our campus community,' university spokesperson Monica Watts said in a statement. Doroudi told Bajgani he spent three days in a county jail, sleeping on a tile floor and feeling panicked. He is now in a Louisiana immigration detention facility more than 300 miles from Tuscaloosa while he awaits a deportation hearing scheduled for next week. At least one other high-profile international student is there. 'I didn't deserve this. If they had just sent me a letter asking me to appear in court, I would've come, because I didn't do anything illegal. I stayed with their permission,' Doroudi said in a letter he dictated to Bajgani over the phone to provide his perspective to others. 'What was the reason for throwing me in jail?' More than 1,000 international students across the U.S. have had their visas or legal status revoked since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements and correspondence with school officials. They included some who protested Israel's war in Gaza. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since reversed those revocations, including those of four University of Alabama students. 'University staff closely monitors changes that could affect them and has communicated updates related to new protocols and procedures,' Watts said. A Louisiana judge who denied Doroudi bond in mid-April said he didn't sufficiently prove that he wasn't a national security threat, Doroudi's lawyer, David Rozas said. Rozas said he was 'flabbergasted' because the government hasn't presented evidence that Doroudi is a threat, though that is what the Department of Homeland Security has alleged. International students make up more than 13% of the statewide University of Alabama graduate program, according to the school's website. More than 100 Iranian students attend the university, according to an estimate from the Iranian Student Assn. Every year, many gather for a picnic to celebrate Sizdah Bedar, the 13th day of the Persian new year, which begins with spring. This year, the typically festive holiday 'felt like a funeral service,' one Iranian doctoral student said. At one point, silence fell over the group as a police car passed. 'It's becoming too hard to be living here, to be yourself and thrive,' said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she fears retaliation. She has criticized the Iranian regime since arriving in the United States more than five years ago, so she suspects she is no longer safe in her home country. Now, she has those same doubts in Alabama. 'All of a sudden it feels like we're returning back to Iran again,' she said. Riddle writes for the Associated Press.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Iranian pupil to self-deport despite dropped charge
Alireza Doroudi with his fiancee. He was detained by immigration officials in March and was held at a facility in Louisiana for six weeks. His visa was revoked in June 2023 (AP photo) MONTGOMERY : An Iranian mechanical engineering student at University of Alabama has decided to self-deport after six weeks in a Louisiana detention centre despite govt dropping a charge behind his initial arrest, his lawyer and fiancee said. Alireza Doroudi was detained by immigration officials in March and has been held at a facility in Louisiana, over 300 miles from where he lived with his fiancee in Alabama. At the time, the state department said Doroudi posed "significant national security concerns." Doroudi's lawyer, David Rozas, said govt hasn't offered evidence to support the claim. Doroudi's visa was revoked in June 2023. Officials did not give a reason and ignored numerous inquiries, his fiancee, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani , said. Operation Sindoor India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan India-Pakistan tensions: Delhi airport issues travel advisory Operation Sindoor: Multiple explosions heard at several Pakistan air bases The university told Doroudi he was legally allowed to stay but would not be allowed to re-enter if he left. This spring, govt filed two charges against Doroudi to justify deporting him, saying his visa was revoked and he was not "in status" as a student, Rozas said. On Thursday, a govt attorney withdrew the first of those and said the visa revocation was "prudential", meaning it would not go into effect until after he leaves the country. A state department spokesperson declined to comment on the case, including Rozas' characterisation of the initial arrest as an error. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The judge in the case gave both sides until the end of May to refile motions and denied Doroudi's plea to redetermine eligibility for bond. Doroudi decided to give up rather than continue to fight deportation. "He told me if they let him go out, there was a good chance he would have fought his case for the sake of other students and for the sake of himself," Bajgani said. She echoed Rozas' confusion about why Doroudi was targeted, saying he had no criminal record, entered the US legally and was not politically outspoken like others who have been targeted.
