A Minnesota student faced an alarming ordeal when he was detained by ICE after losing his visa due to a DUI. Convinced he was being kidnapped, his harrowing experience raises questions about immigration enforcement and due process.
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A 24-year-old international student from Minnesota was abruptly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his student visa was revoked due to a DUI conviction. The student, who believed he was being kidnapped during the arrest, spent three harrowing days in custody before his release. The incident has reignited debates about immigration enforcement practices and due process for non-citizens.
On the morning of May 12, 2023, officers from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations unit detained the student—whose identity remains confidential—outside his apartment in Minneapolis. According to witnesses, the officers did not immediately identify themselves, leading the student to fear he was being abducted. “They grabbed him without warning,” said a neighbor. “He was shouting for help, but no one understood what was happening.”
ICE later confirmed the arrest was part of routine operations targeting individuals with revoked visas. The student, originally from Kenya, had lost his F-1 visa status after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor DUI in 2022. While DUIs don’t automatically trigger deportation, they can lead to visa cancellations—a fact many international students are unaware of.
Immigration attorneys note that ICE’s enforcement priorities often lack transparency. “There’s a disconnect between policy and practice,” said Laura Chen, an immigration lawyer based in St. Paul. “Even minor offenses can upend lives, and detainees frequently don’t understand their rights.” Data from the American Immigration Council supports this: in 2022, over 40% of ICE detainees had no criminal record, while others, like the Minnesota student, had only minor violations.
The student’s case highlights broader concerns:
Proponents of strict enforcement argue that visa holders must abide by U.S. laws. “A DUI is a serious public safety risk,” said Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for the Center for Immigration Studies. “Visas are privileges, not rights.” However, civil rights groups counter that the punishment often outweighs the offense. “This student had no violent history and was weeks from graduating,” countered Amina Hussein of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Alliance. “There was no reason to treat him like a threat.”
The student, now released on bond, faces an uncertain future. His university has pledged legal support, but his deportation proceedings could take years. “I just want to finish my degree,” he told reporters. “I never thought one mistake would cost me everything.”
The Biden administration has pledged to focus ICE efforts on “public safety threats,” but cases like this reveal inconsistencies. Legislative proposals, such as the DREAM Act, could offer protections for students, but partisan gridlock persists. For now, advocates urge universities to better educate international students about their legal vulnerabilities.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the human cost of immigration enforcement—marked by fear, confusion, and shattered dreams—demands closer scrutiny. To support policy reform, contact your representatives or donate to organizations like the American Immigration Council.
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