After UA student Alireza Doroudi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tuesday, two groups have spoken out in support of Doroudi. His fiance has also started a GoFundMe page.
According to the GoFundMe, money raised by the fundraiser will help cover legal expenses, including attorney and court fees.
At the time of publication, it has raised over $4,400, with a goal of $12,000.
The UA Democrats posted a statement on Instagram with the caption, “We will never stop fighting for you, UA.”
“Donald Trump, Tom Homan, and ICE have struck a cold, vicious dagger through the heart of UA’s international community,” the statement said. “As far as we know right now, ICE is yet to provide any justification for their actions, so we are not sure if this persecution is politically motivated, as has been seen in other universities across the country.”
Grassroots organization Alabama for Progress posted a “Free Alireza Doroudi” graphic on Instagram with the caption, “The issue of the extrajudicial state of ICE is no longer a distant issue. It has come to Alabama.”
Students for Justice in Palestine at UA, formerly known as the Bama Students for Palestine, said in a statement on social media Thursday that the group was “outraged” to hear of Doroudi’s detainment. The group said Doroudi “was not involved, nor has he ever been involved in any organizing or protests related to our organization.”
Doroudi’s detainment comes after a string of arrests made on international students at universities across the country.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts student from Turkey; Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown student from India; and a student from Columbia, Mahmoud Khalil, who has legal permanent resident status in the U.S. have all been detained by immigration authorities in the last month.
There is still no detainment center listed on the ICE website. However, a Pickens County Jail employee confirmed Doroudi was being held there. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to requests for comment.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to include where Doroudi is detained and to include a statement from Students for Justice in Palestine at UA.
