BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A student from Iran who had been studying at the University of Alabama before being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers is now likely in a federal facility in Louisiana, sources confirm.

Alireza Doroudi, 32, was arrested by ICE officers outside his home in Tuscaloosa early Tuesday morning. Until Friday morning, Doroudi was being held at the Pickens County Jail until he could be transported to an ICE facility. An employee at the Pickens County Jail confirmed that Doroudi was released from the jail at 8:18 a.m. and was taken by ICE to an undisclosed facility in Louisiana. That facility was later announced to be Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, La.

“He’s probably already there by now,” the employee said.

Doroudi was studying to receive his doctorate degree in mechanical engineering at UA. According to his fiancée, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, he was in the final stages of finishing his degree and was expected to defend his dissertation next school year.

“Since entering the United States legally on a valid student visa, he has been fully engaged in rigorous academic work and collaborative research projects within his department,” Bajgani wrote in a post on her LinkedIn page promoting a GoFundMe to help raise money for an attorney. “His dedication and achievements have earned him recognition in his field and led to his selection to apply for permanent residency. Beyond his academic success, Alireza is known by peers and faculty alike as a responsible, committed, and hard-working individual.”

The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Doroudi posed “significant national security concerns,” although it did not elaborate on what those concerns were. Outside of a speeding and reckless driving charge that he pleaded guilty to and paid a fine for two years ago, Doroudi does not have a criminal record since arriving in the United States in January 2023.

In reporting by The Crimson White, people close to Doroudi claimed that his visa had been revoked six months after arriving at UA, although he was told by the International Student and Scholar Services that he could legally remain in the country as long as he stayed in school.

When reached for comment, Bajgani referred INTERNEWSCAST to Doroudi’s attorney, David Rozas, for comment.

“Alireza is the love of my life, and I can’t say anything more than that,” she said.