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A University of Minnesota student held in ICE custody since late March is out of detention Thursday. Doğukan Günaydın was held in the Sherburne County Jail after being arrested by immigration authorities. 

A federal judge ruled this week that his detention violated his procedural due process rights under the Fifth Amendment and ordered his release by 4 p.m.

The Department of Homeland security argued Günaydın posed a public safety and national security threat because of his past drunk driving conviction.

An order signed Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan said Günaydın’s detention violated his procedural due process rights under the Fifth Amendment.

Günaydın, who is a Turkish citizen, had been detained in the Sherburne County Jail since March 27.

As he left the federal building where immigration cases are heard, Günaydın thanked his attorneys for fighting his detention.

"For weeks I was detained with my charges dismissed, bond granted or no pending trial or hearing. I am disappointed in the integrity of the system and in individuals who allowed this to happen."

The Department of Homeland Security was seeking to deport Günaydın because of a drunk driving conviction. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor DWI last year following a June 2023 incident in Minneapolis.

Timeline

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Despite court rulings in his favor, U of M student still fighting for freedom from ICE custody

The Trump administration has targeted foreign students for removal who’ve participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or have spoken out against Israel’s war in Gaza. But Günaydın’s arrest was “not related to student protests. The individual in question was arrested after a visa revocation by the State Dept. related to a prior criminal history for a DUI,” according to Homeland Security officials.

Günaydın’s attorneys Hannah Brown and Kelsey Hines did not comment on pending immigration proceedings but did confirm that there are no future hearings. 

Separately, a judge in California blocked the Trump administration Thursday from terminating the legal status of international students nationwide while a court case challenging previous terminations is pending.

The order by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland bars the government from arresting, incarcerating or moving students elsewhere based on their legal status until the case is resolved. Students could still be arrested for other reasons and their legal status can still be revoked if they are convicted of a violent crime carrying a prison term of more than a year.

Most courts hearing these types of cases have granted protections to the person suing, but White said the government’s actions “wreaked havoc” not only on the lives of plaintiffs but other nonimmigrants in the U.S. on student visas.

Sarah Thamer

Author

Doğukan Günaydın had been held in the Sherburne County Jail after being arrested by immigration authorities. A federal judge ruled this week that his detention violated his procedural due process rights. He was released Thursday.

MPR News senior reporter Sarah Thamer talks about Doğukan Günaydın's release

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

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U of M grad student released from ICE custody after judge's ruling

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