ICE Detains University of Oklahoma Professor With Valid H-1B Visa
WASHINGTON D.C. – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Vahid Abedini, a professor at the University of Oklahoma’s Boren College of International Studies, on November 22nd as he attempted to board a flight to Washington, D.C. for a Middle East Studies Association conference. The detention has raised concerns about the agency’s increased enforcement efforts under new funding legislation.
Abedini possesses a valid H-1B visa, a non-immigrant work visa for individuals in “specialty occupations,” including higher education faculty, according to his colleague, Joshua Landis, a professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma.
“He has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa,” Landis stated in a post on X. “he is very pro-America, let me just make that clear. He loves America.”
As of late Monday,ICE’s online detainee locator listed Abedini in ICE custody,identifying his birthplace as Iran but not disclosing his current location. A friend of Abedini’s,who requested anonymity,told HuffPost she spoke with him Monday and he was in immigration custody,and “seems to be in good spirits,” with access to basic necessities.
The detention comes as ICE prepares to significantly expand enforcement operations following the deployment of newly trained agents nationwide. This expansion is fueled by the “one Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in July,which allocates $45 billion to increase ICE detention capacity to nearly 100,000 beds,$14 billion for transportation and removal operations,and $8 billion to hire 10,000 new deportation officers.
Landis stated that abedini’s case is currently under review by legal counsel.
The University of Oklahoma has declined to comment on the situation.
This story was updated on November 25, 2025, at 2:00 a.m.ET to include additional information.