Minnesota State University student detained by ICE near Mankato campus
At least two Minnesota university students have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the last week, according to school officials.
In a statement released Monday, the president of Minnesota State University-Mankato said a student was detained by ICE at an off-campus residence last Friday.
"No reason was given," Edward Inch said. "The University has received no information from ICE, and they have not requested any information from us."
The detained student is currently in the jail in Albert Lea, a facility that partners with ICE.
Inch said he has contacted elected officials to share his concerns and ask them for assistance in "stopping this activity within our community of learners."
"Our international students play an important role in our campus and community," Inch said. "They are a valued part of our campus culture. This action hurts what we try to accomplish as a university—support all learners to receive the education they desire to make the impact they want in their communities."
The detainment occurred one day after a similar event in Minneapolis where a University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduate student was detained by ICE at an off-campus residence, according to the school.
"A lot of our international students are very scared and worried about their future," said Jameel Haque, an associate professor of history at MSU-Mankato.
Cole Koets, a junior there, is taking action. He's drafting resolutions for the student government and planning a campaign to inform students of their constitutional rights.
"I don't see [ICE] making my campus any safer," Koets said. "I don't see them making Minnesotans any safer. I see now that there are a lot of my peers who are scared to go outside because they don't know if their rights are going to be violated."
ICE didn't immediately respond to WCCO's questions about the detainment.
"The notion that a student could come to our school on a legal, international visa and be detained by ICE without reason or charge is ridiculous," Koets said.
Haque believes the lack of information is intentional and meant to cause fear.
"Our domestic students and our students who are citizens are looking for ways to support their international brothers and sisters, and our international students are looking to the faculty and the school for help as to how to protect themselves," he said.
MSU-Mankato has more than 1,000 international students from more than 100 countries.
Koets says there could be campus protests at MSU-Mankato as soon as Tuesday.
"People are extremely scared," Max Vast, AFSCME UMN president, said. "People are scared. Students and workers alike, because of the attacks we've seen from ice."
The first arrested sparked weekend protests at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. It comes on the heels of other high-profile student arrests at Columbia and Tufts Universities.
A statement from the Department of Homeland Security says the arrest at the U of M was "not related to student protests." Instead, they were "arrested after a visa revocation by the State Department related to a prior criminal history for a DUI."
Protesters at the U of M Monday found out about the arrest at Mankato mid-rally.
"We're here today, doing this, and these attacks keep happening," Vast said. "And it's the only way we can save them."
U of M students, staff and union leaders are calling on school leaders to protect University community members against what they're calling "attacks from the Trump administration."
The U of M said it had no prior knowledge of the incident and didn't share any information with federal officials before the detainment happened. The incident has raised fears among the more than 5,000 international students at the university.
"We are actively working to gather more details about this incident," the letter said. "In cases like this, the University takes steps to ensure students are connected to internal resources and support, such as Student Legal Service and International Student and Scholar Services."
University President Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips and Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramírez Fernández signed the letter.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar says her office is working with MSU-Mankato and pressing ICE for more information.
