Iranian student self-deports after wrongful detainment in the U.S
- Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian student, faced detention for weeks due to immigration issues.
- The U.S. government dropped charges against him but he chose to self-deport instead of fighting claims of being out of status.
- Doroudi's case highlights potential injustices in the immigration system and the impact on international students.
In the United States, an Iranian mechanical engineering student named Alireza Doroudi chose to self-deport after spending six weeks in a Louisiana immigration detention center. Doroudi, who was studying at the University of Alabama, was initially detained by immigration officials in March 2023 as part of a broader crackdown following former President Donald Trump’s policies. The U.S. State Department had labeled him as posing 'significant national security concerns,' even though his lawyer, David Rozas, argued that no evidence was provided to back this claim. The university, however, stated that Doroudi was legally allowed to stay, despite the complications surrounding his visa status. In June 2023, his visa was revoked without explanation, which brought forth confusion and concern from both Doroudi and his fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani. While the government filed two charges against him to justify his deportation, one of the charges was recently withdrawn by a government attorney, clarifying that the visa revocation would only take effect after he left the country. This development led to Rozas submitting evidence to dispute the second remaining charge, which claimed he was not an active student. Despite this, the judge overseeing the case refused to grant Doroudi’s request for bond eligibility. Ultimately, Doroudi made the difficult decision to abandon his fight against deportation rather than face indefinite detention. This decision was influenced by the emotional toll of his experience and the uncertainty of his future in the U.S. His fiancée described him as a dedicated student with dreams for his future, but now feels devastated by having to leave their life in Alabama behind. Rozas, who has represented many immigration cases over his 21-year career, described Doroudi’s case as unprecedented and indicative of a breakdown in due process. The attorney criticized the actions of immigration officials, suggesting they effectively forced his client into a position where self-deportation was seen as the only viable option to escape indefinite detention. Both Doroudi and his fiancée expressed their feelings of injustice and loss regarding his situation, as it altered their plans for the future.