Key Takeaways
• Alireza Doroudi spent six weeks detained after a revoked student visa; one charge was later dropped.
• He self-deported instead of waiting longer in detention; the government never provided evidence for security claims.
• Doroudi’s case highlights confusion, lack of transparency, and risks international students face in the U.S.
Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian mechanical engineering doctoral student at the University of Alabama, has become the focus of a case that highlights the growing challenges faced by international students in the United States 🇺🇸. His recent decision to self-deport after six weeks in detention—even after one charge against him was dropped—raises questions about the U.S. immigration system, the status and treatment of foreign students, and the impact of unclear government actions.
Alireza Doroudi’s Detention and Charges
In March 2025, Alireza Doroudi was taken into custody by U.S. immigration officials. At the time, he was studying and living in Alabama, where he had a fiancée, and was pursuing a difficult and highly respected doctoral program in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama. When Doroudi was detained, he was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, over 300 miles from his home in Alabama. While it’s not unusual for detainees to be moved across state lines, the distance separated Doroudi from his support system, making his situation even more difficult.
The State Department claimed that Doroudi posed what they called “significant national security concerns.” However, his lawyer, David Rozas, stated that the government never showed any evidence to back up this claim. Adding to the confusion, the press could not get a clear answer about the specific reason for Doroudi’s detention or whether the government agreed it was a mistake.
Revocation of Visa and “Status” Issues
The trouble for Alireza Doroudi actually began nearly two years earlier, in June 2023, when his student visa was suddenly revoked. Officials never gave a clear reason, and, according to his lawyer, many inquiries about the situation were ignored. During this time, the University of Alabama told Doroudi that he was still legally in the country, but warned him that if he left, he would not be allowed back in. Despite this warning, Doroudi stayed in the United States 🇺🇸, following both the advice and notification from his university.
In March 2025, two official charges were filed against Doroudi to justify trying to remove him from the country:
- His visa had been revoked.
- He was not “in status” as a student.
Being “in status” means following the rules for student visa holders, which includes things like staying enrolled full-time and not breaking any visa rules. The government did not say that Doroudi had broken any rules. Instead, they focused on the revoked visa and whether staying after the revocation meant he was no longer “in status.”
After several weeks in detention, the government dropped the first charge, admitting that the visa revocation was “prudential.” This word, in plain terms, means the cancellation would only take effect once Doroudi left the United States 🇺🇸. So, he was still allowed to stay for the time being and the removal justification based on visa revocation was no longer valid. Yet, the government did not drop the second charge related to student status, leaving Doroudi’s case in limbo.
Legal Proceedings and the Process of Self-Deportation
After the first charge was dropped, both sides—the government and Doroudi’s legal team—were given until the end of May to submit new legal motions. During this time, Doroudi’s lawyer pushed for him to be released on bond, which would have allowed him to leave detention and fight for his right to stay while not being locked up. The judge, however, would not reconsider Doroudi’s eligibility for bond.
Facing the prospect of waiting much longer in detention, away from his home and fiancée, with no clear end in sight, Doroudi decided to end the legal fight and “self-deport.” Self-deporting, in this context, means choosing to leave the country on his own instead of being removed by force or waiting for a judge’s final decision. It’s a difficult choice that many immigrants feel forced to make when the legal process takes too long or becomes too harsh.
His lawyer shared that Doroudi’s fight was not only for himself but also for other international students facing similar problems. “He would have continued fighting his case—for the sake of other students and for the sake of himself—if he had been released,” explained Doroudi’s fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani. She also shared her confusion over why he was singled out, pointing out that Doroudi had no criminal record, entered the U.S. legally, and wasn’t outspoken about political issues—unlike other students who have faced similar troubles.
Effects on International Students and University Communities
What happened to Alireza Doroudi has led many to wonder about the current climate for international students in the United States 🇺🇸. Students from other countries not only bring new knowledge, cultures, and perspectives to schools like the University of Alabama, but they also depend on clear rules and predictable support from the government. When these systems break down or become less transparent, the risks for students increase.
Doroudi’s immigration record was nearly spotless, with the only blemishes being minor traffic tickets, according to his lawyer. Many people following the case felt that the treatment he received was unfair. Some have called it a “travesty of justice,” emphasizing how easily students can become caught up in the immigration system even when they’ve done nothing wrong.
Doroudi’s case also put a spotlight on how students and researchers from countries like Iran 🇮🇷 can sometimes be viewed with suspicion, especially during times of tension between governments. The fact that the State Department labeled him a national security concern without offering proof made many, including those at the University of Alabama, uneasy about their own status or future chances of staying in the country.
Concerns About Due Process and Transparency
This case raised big questions about due process—the right for people to have a fair chance to defend themselves. Alireza Doroudi found himself battling serious allegations with unclear evidence and little communication from the authorities. Delays in responding to his legal team’s inquiries and the lack of clear answers about his visa status only fueled concern that international students can be left in the dark when problems arise.
For many foreign students, understanding the complicated web of U.S. visa rules is already a challenge. When the government makes sudden decisions, like revoking a visa without notice or explanation, students risk detention or removal, even when following all published guidelines. As many advocates argue, it’s important that students like Doroudi receive clear, direct answers to questions about their status and have real chances to fix any problems.
The Impact of Detention on Personal and Academic Life
Spending six weeks in detention is hard for anyone, but for a doctoral student involved in advanced research, it can be especially damaging. Research and academic work often follow strict timelines. Losing even a few weeks can set students back months or years. In Doroudi’s case, being held 300 miles from home also meant emotional pain, made worse by separation from his fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, and his friends at the University of Alabama.
The situation can also hurt relationships between students and their universities. When students are unsure about their future, it’s harder for schools to attract talented people from around the world. This is why colleges and universities have called for clearer, more reliable immigration rules and better support for their international communities.
Public and Political Response
Doroudi’s detention and decision to self-deport did not go unnoticed in media circles. Outlets have criticized the process, focusing on the way charges were filed and then partly withdrawn without public explanation. As reported by VisaVerge.com, cases like Doroudi’s add to the fear and uncertainty felt by many international students studying in the United States 🇺🇸.
Advocates for fair immigration rules say that what happened to Doroudi could have lasting effects on the willingness of foreign students, especially those from countries under tighter scrutiny, to study in the United States 🇺🇸. If students feel like one mistake—or even one misunderstanding—could lead to sudden detention, they might choose to study elsewhere or avoid U.S. higher education altogether.
Notably, Doroudi’s case also comes at a time when the United States 🇺🇸 is trying to keep its reputation as a top home for global education and science. International students contribute billions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy and help fuel research and innovation at top schools. Losing talented students over unclear or harsh rules could have broad impacts both for universities and the country as a whole.
What Is Next for Students and Schools?
As the situation stands, international students—including those at the University of Alabama—are left with more questions than answers. How can they be sure that their paperwork is in order? Does following university guidance guarantee protection? What happens if their visa is revoked without notice or explanation?
These questions underline the need for better communication and more reliable systems. If a student’s status changes, there should be clear procedures for informing the person and their school. There should also be real ways for students to clear up misunderstandings, especially when there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
For people looking for help or information about U.S. student visas—including rules about staying “in status” or what to do if your visa is revoked—the U.S. Department of State’s Student Visa page offers helpful official guidance.
Conclusion
The case of Alireza Doroudi—detained for weeks, charged and then partly cleared but still feeling forced to self-deport—puts a spotlight on real challenges in the U.S. immigration and student visa system. Even students who have followed every rule and have only minor infractions like traffic tickets can face sudden, life-changing dangers.
While Doroudi’s story is personal, it signals larger problems and sends a warning to international students and the universities that welcome them. People need simple, fair rules and systems that work. If schools like the University of Alabama and their students want to keep attracting global talent, there must be trust that the rules will not change without notice, and that fairness will stand before suspicion.
Cases like this make it clear: strong systems, clear communication, and due process protect not just individual students like Alireza Doroudi but also the wider reputation and success of U.S. higher education. As both the government and colleges look forward, remembering and learning from stories like Doroudi’s is essential for positive change.
Learn Today
Self-deportation → When a person chooses to leave a country voluntarily instead of being forcibly removed by immigration authorities.
Status → Legal condition of a person’s stay, referring to whether they are following visa rules, especially for students.
Prudential revocation → A visa cancellation that becomes effective only when the individual leaves the United States, not immediately.
Due process → The legal right for individuals to receive fair treatment and an opportunity to defend themselves in legal matters.
Detention center → A secure facility where people are held by immigration authorities while their cases are processed.
This Article in a Nutshell
Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian PhD student at the University of Alabama, was detained six weeks over visa status confusion. Despite one charge being dropped, he chose self-deportation due to continued detention. Doroudi’s case exposes flaws in U.S. immigration processes, raising questions about transparency and the treatment of international students nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com
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