Key Takeaways:

• A University of Minnesota graduate student's visa was revoked due to a DUI conviction, not involvement in protests.
• ICE's actions have raised significant concerns among university officials and students about enforcement near educational institutions.
• Local and state leaders are calling for answers following the lack of communication from ICE about recent detentions.

A graduate student from the University of Minnesota was detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a visa revocation tied to a prior DUI conviction rather than participation in any protests, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. This statement refuted widespread speculation that the student's arrest was linked to activism, specifically support for Palestinian causes during campus demonstrations. The student's detention occurred at an off-campus residence on Thursday, and the university expressed it was unaware of the impending arrest.

The president of the University of Minnesota, Rebecca Cunningham, indicated that the school was unaware of the situation prior to the arrest and has stated, "This is a deeply concerning situation." In supporting the detained student, the university has pledged to provide legal assistance and other necessary resources. ICE, however, has not offered any further detail regarding the incident relating to the student, named Dogukan Gunaydin, who has since filed a lawsuit challenging his arrest's legality, as reported by The New York Times.

Governor Tim Walz has reached out to federal officials to obtain more information about the incident and has expressed concerns regarding due process rights for international students, stating, "In this country, everyone has due process rights and our concern is whether those due process rights are being followed." This incident is particularly alarming in the broader context of increasing scrutiny and action against international students involved in political activism, especially on university campuses.

On a similar note, another student at Minnesota State University Mankato was also detained the following day. President Edward Inch criticized ICE actions for undermining educational environments, urging federal intervention to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Despite the Trump administration's emphasis on cracking down on foreign students perceived as threats, the lack of clarity surrounding the recent detentions continues to provoke protests and inquiries from both students and university officials. Such actions have raised alarms regarding the preservation of a safe and supportive environment for all learners on campuses across the state and nation.

This situation echoes concerns similar to those raised by U.S. Senator Tina Smith, who has called out the pattern of ICE detaining students with insufficient explanation, arguing it contravenes basic rights and expectations held by many in educational communities.

For more details, visit Newsweek, CBS News, and The Hill.