BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Attorneys for an Iranian student who was detained by immigration officers at his home in Tuscaloosa last week believe his arrest may have been part of a targeted operation.

Alireza Doroudi, 32, a doctoral student majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, was detained by officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before 5 a.m. March 25 at his off-campus apartment in Tuscaloosa. Doroudi, originally from Iran, is now being held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana.

“ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Department’s revocation of Doroudi’s student visa,” an official with the Department of Homeland Security wrote in a statement to INTERNEWSCAST at the time. “This individual posed significant national security concerns.”

According to The Crimson White, Doroudi’s visa had allegedly been revoked not long after arriving in the United States in January 2023. He had been reportedly told, however, by UA’s International Student and Scholar Services office that he would alright as long as he remained in school.

David Rozas, Doroudi’s attorney, has said his SEVIS and I-20, also known as “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” were valid and that he was set to graduate next year. Compared to other students, such as Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, who have been detained by ICE due to their views on the war in Gaza, Rozas has said that there has been no evidence that Doroudi shared any pro-Hamas stances or took part in any political demonstrations decrying the Israel-Palestine conflict.

As of Wednesday, neither ICE or DHS has elaborated on why Doroudi was considered a security concern, nor has he been charged with any crime.

Claire Angelle, publicist for Rozas, provided the following answers to questions INTERNEWSCAST had about Doroudi’s case:

Has homeland security provided any other information as to why Alireza Doroudi was labeled “a national security concern?”

DHS has not provided a reason as to why Mr. Doroudi would be labeled a national security threat. 

Does Alireza Doroudi have any tie to pro-Palestinian movements?

To our knowledge, Alireza Doroudi does not have ties to pro-Palestinian movements.

Have you received any update on his well-being since being transported to the ICE facility in Louisiana, such as is he isolated, in a cell with others, is he able to contact family/friends state side or back home in Iran?

Alireza Doroudi is currently detained with others at the detention center in Jena, Louisiana. His attorney, David Rozas, was able to visit him on Sunday, March 30. He is allowed to make phone calls.

Is there any indication that Alireza Doroudi will be moved to another facility inside or outside of the country?

There is no indication that Alireza Doroudi will be moved to another facility at this point.

Has a hearing been set?

No hearing has been set. 

Is there anything that makes this case/arrest unusual/uncommon compared to other immigration cases?

His case is notable because ICE came to his home in the middle of the night, suggesting that this may have been a targeted operation. Based on all available information, Mr. Doroudi was compliant with all of the rules and requirements needed in order to maintain his visa status. 

INTERNEWSCAST reporter Avery Boyce contributed to this report.