Federal authorities have detained an international graduate student from Tufts University near Boston and revoked their visa, the university confirmed in a statement on Tuesday night.
The student was taken into U.S. custody from an off-campus apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. However, Tufts University stated that it had no further details regarding the detention or the circumstances surrounding the student’s immigration status.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not yet responded to requests for comment. The student’s legal representative was also unavailable for immediate comment.
This detention is part of a broader crackdown on immigration policies under the administration of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump. In recent months, the administration has ramped up immigration arrests, imposed stricter visa regulations, and pledged to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have accused some foreign protesters of supporting Hamas, arguing that their actions pose challenges to U.S. foreign policy. However, these claims have sparked legal challenges from students and activists.
Recently, a lawful permanent resident and student protester at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested, with Trump alleging without evidence that he supported Hamas—an accusation Khalil has denied. Additionally, immigration officials attempted to detain a Korean American Columbia University student involved in pro-Palestinian protests, though the courts temporarily blocked the move.
Earlier this month, Brown University professor Dr. Rasha Alawieh was denied re-entry to the U.S. and deported to Lebanon after officials alleged her phone contained images sympathetic to Hezbollah. Dr. Alawieh denied any affiliation with the group, stating that her personal beliefs were misinterpreted.
Trump’s administration has also taken action against students at Cornell University and Georgetown University as part of its broader immigration enforcement strategy.
The case of the Tufts University student remains under investigation, and further details are expected as legal proceedings unfold.
