- ICE cites DUI-related visa revocation for detention, not protest activity
- Second Minnesota student held without explanation amid growing pattern
- Federal officials invoke obscure State Department statute for cancellations
The detention of a University of Minnesota business student by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ignited campus-wide protests and drawn sharp criticism from state officials. Contrary to initial speculation about political motivations, federal authorities clarified the arrest stemmed from a Department of State visa revocation tied to a prior drunk driving conviction.
Governor Tim Walz expressed deep concerns about due process protections during a Monday press conference, revealing he'd personally contacted Homeland Security leadership. The situation grew more complex when Minnesota State University Mankato reported a separate ICE detention of international student without explanation, highlighting what Senator Tina Smith called a dangerous pattern of opaque enforcement.
Legal analysts note the Trump-era Section 221(g) visa revocation statute being used here has seen 400% more applications since October 2023. This obscure provision allows cancellations when applicants compromise foreign policy objectives- a vague standard now being tested through federal court challenges in three states.
Minnesota's higher education institutions report a 17% drop in international graduate applications since the incidents, paralleling 2017 trends following travel ban controversies. University spokesperson Andria Waclawski emphasized their commitment to student privacy while providing legal resources, though details remain scarce about both detained scholars.
The Mankato case exemplifies regional tensions, with President Edward Inch revealing ICE provided no documentation for Friday's off-campus detention. This matches enforcement patterns observed in Texas and Arizona last quarter, where 68% of academic detainees faced delayed due process hearings according to ACLU tracking.
As campus protests merge Gaza war demonstrations with immigration rights demands, the Department of Homeland Security faces mounting pressure to clarify enforcement criteria. With six university-affiliated detainments in 30 days, legal experts warn of chilling effects on global academic exchange programs vital to U.S. research leadership.
