Context:

An Iranian mechanical engineering student at the University of Alabama, Alireza Doroudi, chose to self-deport after being detained for six weeks despite the dropping of a charge that led to his arrest. Doroudi was caught up in an immigration crackdown and held over 300 miles from his home, with the government citing national security concerns without evidence. His visa was revoked without explanation, and despite the University advising he could stay, he would be barred from re-entering if he left. The government filed charges against him for visa revocation and not maintaining student status, but later withdrew one charge, leaving him to contest the remaining one. Doroudi decided to self-deport, feeling pressured by the situation and lack of due process, as his lawyer and fiancee expressed their devastation over the ordeal.

Dive Deeper:

• Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian student at the University of Alabama, chose to self-deport after being detained for six weeks in Louisiana, despite the withdrawal of one of the charges that led to his arrest.

• The detention was part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Trump, with Doroudi being labeled a national security concern without any provided evidence.

• Doroudi's visa was revoked in June 2023 without explanation, and repeated inquiries for clarification were ignored, complicating his legal status in the U.S.

• The government initially charged Doroudi with visa revocation and not being in student status but later retracted the visa revocation charge, aligning with the university's advice that he could stay but not re-enter the country if he left.

• Doroudi's decision to self-deport was influenced by the pressure of indefinite detention and the lack of due process, as he felt forced to choose between continuing a legal battle and returning home.

• His fiancee, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, expressed her confusion and frustration over the treatment Doroudi received, noting he had no criminal record and was not politically active.

• Doroudi's lawyer criticized the authorities for forcing his client into a corner and described the situation as a travesty of justice, highlighting the emotional and personal toll on Doroudi and his fiancee.