Key Takeaways
• Alireza Doroudi was detained for six weeks and forced to leave the U.S. despite holding a valid F-1 visa.
• U.S. officials cited undisclosed national security concerns, but did not provide Doroudi or his lawyer specific reasons.
• Over 1,000 international students have faced visa revocations or detentions following new policies since March 2025.
Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama, found himself at the center of a growing debate over U.S. immigration policy as he was forced to leave the United States 🇺🇸 after spending six weeks in immigration detention. His case has been called “a travesty of justice” by his lawyer, highlighting a situation that many believe raises important questions about how immigration officials treat international students. The story of Alireza Doroudi not only affected his own life, but also sent shockwaves through the Iranian student community and brought wider attention to recent immigration enforcement under current government policies.
A Promising Student’s Arrival and Sudden Detention
Alireza Doroudi arrived in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, after securing an F-1 student visa. Like many international students, he had gone through all necessary checks and was looking forward to his doctoral studies at the University of Alabama. His fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, was also a doctoral student at the university. The couple seemed set for a future together, both engaged in their research work and university life.
But everything changed just hours after they celebrated the Persian new year. In the early morning, seven armed immigration officers showed up at the apartment Doroudi shared with Bajgani. The two were startled and frightened as the officers entered and detained Doroudi. This marked the start of an ordeal that would last weeks and have lasting effects on many in the university community. According to Doroudi’s lawyer, Rozas, this action was out of line and stripped Doroudi of his basic rights.
The Issue of Visa Revocation
A point of confusion in Doroudi’s situation was his visa status. After entering on his F-1 visa, everything had seemed in order. However, six months later, Doroudi learned that his visa had been revoked. Concerned and unsure of what this meant, he reached out to the university’s International Student Scholar Services (ISSS). He was told that his case was not unusual and that he could remain in the country as long as he kept up his studies. This assurance brought some relief. However, it turned out to be misleading, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later detained him despite this advice.
Life in Immigration Detention
Once taken from his apartment, Doroudi was put into a county jail. He spent three days there, sleeping on a hard tile floor. In a letter dictated to his fiancée, he said he had feelings of panic during this time. After those three days, he was transferred to an immigration detention facility in Jena, Louisiana 🇺🇸. This was about 300 miles from his home and the university in Alabama. There, Doroudi lingered for weeks awaiting a decision in his case.
Doroudi questioned the reason for his treatment, writing, “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. What was the reason for throwing me in jail?”
The details of his time in immigration detention highlight how the process can be harsh, especially for people like Doroudi who feel they have followed the rules and kept up with all requirements. He had expected to be treated fairly, and his experience left him confused and distressed.
The Government’s View and Legal Challenge
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took a tough position, stating that Doroudi “posed significant national security concerns.” However, government officials did not share any additional details or evidence to explain what these security risks were. The lack of a clear explanation added to the confusion around Doroudi’s case, making it hard for his supporters and legal team to understand or answer the charges.
Rozas, Doroudi’s lawyer, spoke out strongly against the way his client was treated. He claims authorities denied Doroudi a fair hearing, not allowing him a chance to defend himself or understand the charges. According to Rozas, the choice became simple but heartbreaking—either stay in indefinite detention, with no end in sight to the process, or agree to leave the country voluntarily. Rozas called it “a travesty of justice” and expressed deep sadness at the outcome.
Self-Deportation and its Consequences
After weeks of waiting without answers, Doroudi made the difficult decision to “self-deport.” This means he agreed to leave the United States 🇺🇸 on his own rather than be forced out by the government. For someone who had made plans for a new life and career in the United States 🇺🇸, this choice felt forced and unfair.
Self-deportation can have long-term consequences. It often means returning to a home country after spending time and money to build a life in the United States 🇺🇸. For many, it can also make returning to the country in the future more difficult, as records of immigration detention can lead to extra scrutiny or denial of new visas. Doroudi’s sudden departure meant the loss of his academic future in the United States 🇺🇸 and separation from his fiancée and friends.
Impact on the Iranian Student Community at the University of Alabama
The case of Alireza Doroudi quickly became known on campus and affected many other students, especially those from Iran 🇮🇷. The Iranian student community at the University of Alabama had once been described as “vibrant,” but this sense of belonging and safety was shattered. According to VisaVerge.com, many Iranian students received informal advice from faculty members to “lay low” and “be invisible.” This change turned the university from a place of learning and connection into one where students felt nervous or afraid for their safety.
For some, the stress was so intense that it had physical effects. One civil engineering student and close friend of Doroudi lost over 10 pounds from worry and depression during the six weeks Doroudi spent in detention. Others reported being afraid to speak up or participate in student life, for fear that any attention could bring them into the sights of immigration officials.
A Wider Pattern of Immigration Enforcement
What happened to Doroudi did not occur in isolation. Reports suggest that his case is part of an ongoing immigration crackdown in the United States 🇺🇸. Since late March 2025, more than 1,000 international students across the country have had their visas or legal status taken away. Some of these students had protested Israel’s war in Gaza 🇵🇸, adding an extra layer of tension to already sensitive discussions on campus about international affairs and free speech.
In fact, immigration officials have since reversed some of these visa revocations. Four other students from the University of Alabama got their student status back after review. But for many, the fear and uncertainty remain. Events like these change how international students feel about studying in the United States 🇺🇸, creating worries that even those who follow the rules can still get caught up in shifting policies.
A Focus on New Policies and Orders
This rise in enforcement came after President Trump issued an executive order in January 2025. The order made it possible to revoke student visas for people who supported Hamas, saying that it was needed because of “an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitic discrimination, harassment, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, particularly within our educational institutions.” The policy showed that the government was now more willing to use immigration tools to address concerns it saw on U.S. college campuses.
For international students, this makes their situation more complicated. Even if they are not directly involved in protests or controversies, the uncertainty over how new policies could affect them makes daily life more stressful. Universities also find themselves having to support students better or help them understand what these changes mean for their own studies and legal status in the United States 🇺🇸.
Legal and Procedural Issues in the Case
What happened to Alireza Doroudi also brings attention to the legal process for people who find themselves in trouble with immigration authorities. The F-1 student visa that Doroudi had entered on is supposed to allow a person to study in the United States 🇺🇸 as long as they keep their status by remaining a full-time student and meeting other requirements. Losing that status or having a visa revoked can lead to serious problems, as was seen in Doroudi’s case.
When Doroudi learned of his visa issue, he did what many would do—he asked for help from the university offices meant to help international students. The ISSS told him that his case was not unique and that he should not worry as long as he continued his studies. However, the events show that this advice was not enough to protect him from detention.
The process of immigration detention itself can also be confusing and harsh. Many people, like Doroudi, are taken by surprise and have little warning before being detained. Conditions in detention centers and jails can be hard, with little comfort or information. People in detention may wait weeks or months for a decision in their case, often without a clear sense of what will happen next. This uncertainty takes a toll on their mental and emotional health.
The Experience of Detention and Due Process
Doroudi’s own words, as shared in the letter to his fiancée, shed light on the fears and frustrations that can come with immigration detention. He made clear that he would have answered any official request—he did not try to hide or break any law. Instead, he was taken from his home and kept in a jail cell far from his university and friends. The right to due process—a basic principle that gives someone a fair chance to be heard in court—was, according to his lawyer, denied.
When someone is detained by immigration authorities, they are supposed to be able to challenge their detention and explain their situation. The courts play a role in reviewing these cases. However, lengthy delays, lack of information, or tough policies can make it feel impossible to get a real chance to defend oneself—something Doroudi’s advocate argues happened here.
Reactions from Legal and Civil Rights Groups
The detention and forced exit of Alireza Doroudi also attracted concern from outside groups. Civil rights advocates, lawyers, and some officials see the pattern of increased immigration detention as troubling, especially when it involves students who have worked hard to follow the rules. According to reports from places like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), similar situations have happened before, with students sometimes being sent home even when courts said they should be allowed to stay.
These stories add to a debate about whether current immigration and ICE policies go too far. Some say tough enforcement is needed to protect security. Others argue that the lack of clear communication and legal protections for international students is unfair and may even hurt the broader goals of American colleges and universities, which depend on talented students from around the world.
The Ongoing Impact and What Comes Next
The story of Alireza Doroudi is a reminder of how immigration enforcement can affect not just one person, but whole communities. The University of Alabama, once seen as welcoming to people from all over the world, now faces questions about how it supports and protects its international students. Many will keep calling for better communication, clearer rules, and fair treatment for all who come to study in the United States 🇺🇸.
For international students and their families, this story highlights the need to stay informed about their rights and know how to get help if problems come up. People can find more information about student visas and rights at the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
As the United States 🇺🇸 continues to debate the right balance between security and welcoming international talent, Doroudi’s case will likely stand as an example of what can go wrong when rules are unclear and processes fail. Students, educators, and policy makers will need to work together to ensure that schools remain places where learning and fairness go hand in hand.
Learn Today
F-1 student visa → A non-immigrant visa allowing foreign students to study full-time at accredited U.S. academic institutions.
Visa revocation → The process by which a previously authorized visa is canceled, voiding the holder’s legal status in the U.S.
Self-deportation → A process where an individual voluntarily leaves the U.S. rather than being forcibly removed by immigration authorities.
Due process → A legal principle guaranteeing fair treatment, including the right to a hearing, before deprivation of liberty or rights.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → A federal agency that enforces laws on border control, customs, trade, and immigration in the United States.
This Article in a Nutshell
Alireza Doroudi’s detention shocked the University of Alabama, igniting debate on U.S. immigration policy. Despite following rules, Doroudi’s F-1 visa was revoked, leading to six weeks in detention and forced self-deportation. His story highlights policy confusion, harsh detention, and deep uncertainty for international students under 2025 immigration enforcement changes.
— By VisaVerge.com
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