An international graduate student at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management was detained Thursday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a situation the U described as “deeply concerning.”
In a statement to students Friday, U President Rebecca Cunningham and two other school officials said the student, who was not identified, was detained at an off-campus residence. No other details about the circumstances were immediately available.
“We are actively working to gather more details about this incident,” said Cunningham, according to the statement.
She added: “The university had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred.”
At universities across the country in recent weeks, federal agents have reportedly detained numerous international students with legal status in the United States without filing criminal charges. The Trump administration has particularly targeted those expressing pro-Palestinian views, raising alarms over free speech rights.
ICE did not respond to a request for more information Friday.
The U’s Council of Graduate Students issued a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed” about the student’s detention. “We call on the federal government to comply with all court orders,” the statement said, “and we urge the university and its partners to do everything possible to defend all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their nation of origin.”
DFL state Sen. Doron Clark, who represents the university area, said on social media that he was “saddened and angered that ICE is operating around the University of Minnesota.”