Press Article: Persian Students in Alabama Face Unprecedented Fear After Immigration Crackdown
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The lives of Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani and her fiancé, Alireza Doroudi, took a perilous turn after a night of celebrating the Persian New Year at the University of Alabama. Shortly after midnight, seven armed immigration officers arrested Doroudi, an act that has sent shockwaves through the local Iranian community. “I was living a normal life until that night. After that, nothing is just normal,” Bajgani stated.
Doroudi’s detention reflects a broader trend affecting international students across the U.S. amid President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement. Bajgani fears for her fiancé’s future, as they have received no explanation for his deportation proceedings. The couple, both doctoral students, are emblematic of a once-vibrant cohort that now feels pressure to "lay low," as faculty members informally advised them.
Doroudi, originally from Shiraz, entered the U.S. on a student visa in January 2023 and maintained his legal status until June when his visa was revoked under unclear circumstances. Now detained over 300 miles away, he awaits a deportation hearing, expressing confusion over his treatment. “I didn’t deserve this… If they had just sent me a letter asking me to appear in court, I would’ve come,” Doroudi lamented.
In recent months, over 1,000 international students had their visas revoked, often impacting those protesting geopolitical events like the conflict in Gaza. The University of Alabama has offered support but remains silent on Doroudi’s specific case, prompting concern among the Iranian student body. One student described this year’s Sizdah Bedar celebration as feeling “like a funeral service,” highlighting the pervasive anxiety enveloping their community.
As tensions escalate, many students are grappling with fear and uncertainty, questioning their safety and belonging in the U.S. Amid these tribulations, the pursuit of the American dream feels increasingly like a distant hope.
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