University of Oklahoma professor Vahid Abedini was unexpectedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on November 22 while preparing to board a flight to Washington, D.C. Abedini, who teaches Iranian studies at the university’s Boren College of International Studies, was on his way to the Middle East Studies Association conference when immigration officers stopped him and took him into custody.
According to his colleague Joshua Landis, Abedini was carrying a valid H-1B work visa at the time of his detention. The H-1B visa is a legal, non-immigrant visa for people in “specialty occupations,” such as university professors. This means Abedini was living and working in the United States lawfully.
The sudden detention shocked many because immigration authorities rarely take a visa-holding professor at an American university into custody without giving a clear explanation. As of late Monday, ICE’s online detainee locator listed Abedini as being in custody but did not reveal where officials were holding him.
A friend who spoke with Abedini told reporters that he had access to basic items like towels and blankets. The friend also shared that Abedini was trying to stay in good spirits, even though the situation remained unclear and unsettling.
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Rising Scrutiny of Immigration Enforcement
This incident is unfolding during a period of heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January. Trump campaigned on wide-scale deportations, especially focusing on undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Since then, immigration operations have expanded nationwide.
The administration has announced plans for what it calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. This effort is supported by a major funding package called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It was signed into law in July. The act provides $45 billion to expand ICE’s detention capacity to nearly 100,000 beds. It also provides $14 billion for transportation and removal operations. Another $8 billion is set aside to hire 10,000 new deportation officers.
Department of Homeland Security officials have been open about their goals. Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in an interview that the department intends to “surge those arrest numbers” now that the new funding and staff are in place. She also noted that more than 175,000 people have applied to work for ICE as part of the expansion.
As these enforcement efforts grow, immigration authorities have faced increased scrutiny over reports of aggressive tactics, mistakes, and detentions involving people who have legal immigration status. Critics warn that expanded operations may sweep visa holders, long-time residents, or people with pending immigration cases into detention by mistake.
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Academic Community Reacts
News of Abedini’s detention spread quickly among scholars and educators, especially within Middle East studies circles. Many people expressed shock because immigration authorities detained a respected professor with a valid visa while he was traveling for academic work. Landis said that Middle East scholars across the country were “horrified” by what happened. He also emphasized that Abedini has always been supportive of the United States and has been a committed teacher in his field.
Colleagues fear the incident may discourage international scholars from traveling, conducting research, or even accepting jobs at American universities. They worry that uncertainty surrounding immigration enforcement could impact academic freedom and global exchange.
Lawyers are now reviewing Abedini’s case, working to determine why he was detained and what steps will follow. ICE has confirmed only that he is in custody and lists his birthplace as Iran, but has released no additional information about his location or the reasons for the detention.
The situation is now part of a wider national conversation about immigration practices. It has also raised questions about legal rights. People are discussing the experiences of those who hold valid visas in the United States. For now, the academic community and Abedini’s supporters are waiting for more information as legal teams continue their work.
