The University of Minnesota shared last week that one of its graduate students was detained by agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on Thursday at their off-campus residence.
The statement said the situation was “deeply concerning” and confirmed that the international student was enrolled at the school’s Twin Cities Campus.
The statement was signed by university President Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips, and Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramírez Fernández. It also noted that no further information or details were available about the situation and that it had no prior knowledge.
The university did not release the student’s name, nationality, or visa type.
“It is important to note that our campus departments of public safety, including UMPD, do not enforce federal immigration laws, and our officers do not inquire about an individual’s immigration status,” the UMN statement said. “Their focus remains on public safety, fostering trust, and maintaining strong relationships across the University community.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on Friday that he was in touch with the Department of Homeland Security as he sought to get information on what happened.
“The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers,” Walz said on X.
Other local leaders shared similar concerns about the situation, with the Mayor of Minneapolis calling it “deeply troubling” on social media.
“Educational environments must be places where all students can focus on learning and growing without fear,” Jacob Frey said.
The detainment is only the latest from ICE involving international students, as several others have been detained at top universities across the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared last week that the State Department had revoked around 300 visas for foreign students who had traveled to the United States to study.
“It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said at a news conference in Guyana.
He noted that the move to revoke visas is in direct correlation to their involvement with protests and other forms of activism.
“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to be a social activist that comes in and tears up our university campuses,” he said.
“If you invite me into your home because I say, ‘Oh, I want to go to your house for dinner,’ and I come into your house, and I start putting mud on your couch and spray-painting your kitchen, I bet you you’re going to kick me out,” Rubio said.
The University of Minnesota has provided no further details at this time.