A federal judge in Minneapolis has ordered the immediate release of a Turkish graduate student from the University of Minnesota, who was detained after his visa was unexpectedly revoked. Doğukan Günaydın, arrested at his off-campus home on March 27, has been held at the Sherburne County Jail since that time.
Judge Jeffrey Bryan determined that Günaydın’s ongoing detention infringes on his Fifth Amendment right to due process. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security contended that his student visa was revoked due to a DWI conviction earlier this year. Prosecutors had argued for his continued detention, asserting that his misdemeanor offense posed a threat to public safety.
During court proceedings, Günaydın’s attorney countered that he poses no danger or flight risk, noting that he has fulfilled the terms of his probation. The judge overseeing Günaydın’s civil case also intervened to prevent federal authorities from deporting him or removing him from Minnesota.
An immigration judge corroborated this position by describing Günaydın’s drunk driving arrest as an isolated incident, which did not warrant deportation. This judge terminated the removal proceedings against him on April 30, further securing his status in the country.
In a significant development, Judge Bryan instructed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure Günaydın’s release by 4 p.m. on Thursday. This ruling comes in the aftermath of a similar case involving Aditya Harsono, an Indonesian hospital employee who was also detained by ICE after his student visa was revoked. A different judge had ruled in Harsono’s favor, characterizing his arrest as a case of viewpoint discrimination, citing his activism around police violence and support for Palestine on social media.
The legal circumstances surrounding these cases highlight ongoing debates regarding immigration policy and the rights of international students in the United States. Advocates for immigrant rights continue to raise concerns about the potential for unjust detainment and deportation of individuals based on minor offenses.
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