Key Takeaways
• Dogukan Gunaydin’s F-1 visa revoked after a 2023 DWI conviction; ICE arrested him on March 27, 2025.
• Deportation hearing postponed; DHS has until April 22 to file charges, next court date set for May 6, 2025.
• Community protests claim Gunaydin’s ongoing detention is harsh given his remorse, clean record, and ceased driving.
The story of Dogukan Gunaydin, a 28-year-old Turkish citizen and graduate student at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸, shines a bright light on the real challenges many international students face with immigration law in the United States 🇺🇸. On March 27, 2025, Gunaydin was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also called ICE, just outside his apartment in St. Paul. The reason for his arrest was tied to a past conviction from 2023, where he had been found guilty of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Minneapolis. What’s especially important here is that his F-1 student visa, which allowed him to study at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸, had been revoked in connection with his DWI charge—a decision that set the stage for his current situation.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this case has stirred strong feelings not only among students at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸 but among many in the community who worry about how immigration rules are used for international students, especially in situations where a single mistake, like a first-time DWI, can lead to the loss of a visa and the threat of deportation.
Deportation Hearing Postponed
Gunaydin’s legal journey reached a significant moment when his scheduled removal (deportation) hearing in immigration court was postponed. He was supposed to appear before an immigration judge on April 15, 2025. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which controls immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸, asked for more time to put their formal charges together. The immigration judge agreed, giving DHS until April 22 to present the official charges against Gunaydin. His lawyers then have until April 29 to file a response. The new court date is May 6, when both sides will present their arguments in detail.
This delay, while giving both the government and the defense more time, means that Gunaydin must remain in Sherburne County Jail until at least the next court hearing. His situation is a clear example of how long and stressful immigration legal proceedings can be. For many students and their families, each court date and delay brings more uncertainty to their lives and future plans.
Why Did ICE Detain Gunaydin?
The main reason for Gunaydin’s detention is his 2023 gross misdemeanor DWI conviction. Records show that his blood-alcohol level was about double the legal limit at 0.17%. In a video taken during his arrest for DWI, Gunaydin can be seen expressing clear worry and fear that the incident might lead to his deportation. This one moment has since upended his studies and his life in the United States 🇺🇸.
The Department of Homeland Security points to this DWI conviction as proof that Gunaydin is a public safety concern and therefore does not meet the requirements to keep his F-1 student visa. They believe this one offense is serious enough to both revoke his permission to study and remove him from the country.
Arguments from Gunaydin’s Legal Team
Gunaydin’s attorneys have pushed back strongly against these claims. They argue that one DWI conviction should not be enough, in itself, to take away his student status or start deportation proceedings. Their main points include:
- Gunaydin has kept his enrollment active and maintained outstanding academic performance at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸’s Carlson School of Management.
- Besides the DWI, he has no other serious legal problems, just an old speeding ticket.
- For many people, a first DWI—even with a high blood-alcohol level—does not lead to deportation, especially if they can prove this was a one-time mistake and they show real remorse.
- According to his attorneys, Gunaydin no longer owns or drives a car and has publicly apologized for his actions.
But there’s another part to their legal fight: Gunaydin’s lawyers also question the way DHS handled his visa revocation and detention. They claim that the timeline was not handled properly and that Gunaydin was kept in custody for too long before receiving formal charges. In court documents, his legal team described this as a “punitive action,” which means that they believe ICE was punishing Gunaydin with ongoing imprisonment before he got the chance to defend himself.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Position
On the other side, federal prosecutors, who work for DHS, say that Gunaydin’s DWI was a major public safety concern. They insist that the question of whether he should stay in jail or be released must be decided by an immigration judge, not a federal district court. The government says immigration law gives DHS the power to detain and deport non-citizens for serious criminal offenses, and a DWI with a high blood alcohol level fits that rule.
In simple terms, the government’s main reason for insisting that Gunaydin be deported is to protect the wider community and send a message about the risks tied to violating both the law and the strict terms of a student visa.
Community Response and Support
As the legal process continues, the story of Dogukan Gunaydin has pulled in support from students, local community leaders, and even members of the general public in Minnesota. Protesters holding signs have gathered outside the courthouse, calling for an end to deportations in cases like this and raising awareness about what they believe are unfair or harsh detention practices by immigration authorities.
Supporters argue that Gunaydin’s ongoing detention is too strict, especially because this is his only major crime and he’s shown real regret for his actions. They also point out that he is no longer a risk, as he does not have a car and does not drive anymore. As a result, many people see holding him in jail for weeks at a time as unfair.
These supporters say this case is part of a bigger problem: when a single mistake can bring an international student’s whole future to an end, it’s not just about one person—it’s about whether immigration policies are working fairly for everyone. This is especially meaningful at a place like the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸, which hosts hundreds of students from countries all over the world.
Timeline for the Next Steps
Let’s look at what happens next:
- April 22: Deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to file formal charges against Gunaydin.
- April 29: Deadline for Gunaydin’s defense lawyers to respond to those charges.
- May 6: Next scheduled court hearing, when both sides will present full legal arguments and the judge can ask questions or make rulings.
Until at least May 6, Dogukan Gunaydin will remain in the Sherburne County Jail. During this time, he remains separated from his studies, his community, and his supporters at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸. For Dogukan Gunaydin, these dates represent critical moments that will decide if he can finish his graduate program or if he will have to return to Türkiye 🇹🇷, the country where he was born.
Wider Impact: What This Case Means
This case is not just about one student—it’s about how the United States 🇺🇸 handles visa violations, public safety concerns, and the lives of international students. Every year, thousands of students from all over the world come to the United States 🇺🇸 with F-1 visas to further their education and experience another culture. The F-1 visa is meant for full-time students who must stay in good academic standing and follow the law closely. Breaking the law, especially with certain crimes, can lead to the loss of the visa and start the removal process.
However, Gunaydin’s case also raises questions about how strictly these laws should be used, and whether everyone is treated the same way. Some people believe that a single DWI—even a serious one—should not be a “life sentence” that ends a person’s education and dreams. Others, including DHS, say that these rules are important for keeping the community safe and keeping trust in the system.
Immigration law in the United States 🇺🇸 is full of strict rules and little room for mistakes. Even small criminal convictions can turn a student’s life upside down. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for keeping these laws, but also for deciding which cases are worth the harshest punishments, like removal or long-term detention.
Challenges for International Students
The experience of Dogukan Gunaydin is sadly not unusual. Many international students, even those who work hard and keep good grades, can quickly find themselves in trouble with DHS after a single slip-up. When an F-1 visa is revoked, a student can’t go to class or work on campus. They also become at risk of being put in civil detention by ICE, which is very different from a regular jail sentence.
For many students, being detained is scary. They can spend weeks or months in jail waiting for their cases to move through the courts. During that time, they often lose their jobs, fall behind in their classes, and find it hard to pay bills or keep in touch with loved ones.
The community protests in Minnesota show that more and more people are worried about how these policies hurt not just the students, but also universities and local neighborhoods that rely on their energy and ideas.
Legal Process: How Removal Hearings Work
For those who may not know, a removal (deportation) hearing is a process used by immigration courts to decide if an immigrant should be allowed to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 or be sent back to their home country. The Department of Homeland Security files formal charges, which explain the reason for removal. The person facing deportation, like Gunaydin, gets the chance to answer those charges and present their side, often with the help of lawyers.
The judge listens to both sides and uses the law to make a decision. Sometimes, cases are delayed so everyone can collect more documents or argue about how the law should be used. This is what happened when the judge agreed to give both sides a little more time before the next hearing.
The Department of Homeland Security takes these hearings very seriously, especially when there’s a question of public safety, as there is in a DWI case. They have the power to arrest, detain, and remove people who they believe break the rules or may present a danger.
For more official details on the removal process and related forms, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official page on removal proceedings.
Future Outlook
Right now, the case of Dogukan Gunaydin remains complicated and uncertain. The Department of Homeland Security will have to explain its decisions in more detail at the next hearing. Meanwhile, Gunaydin’s lawyers are fighting not only for his release from ICE detention, but also for a decision that will let him complete his work at the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸.
This story is likely to shape how other universities and students across the United States 🇺🇸 think about the risks tied to even small legal mistakes. With DHS increasing its focus on public safety, the stakes for keeping student visas have never been higher.
In closing, the story of Dogukan Gunaydin is about more than immigration law—it’s about chances, consequences, and who gets to benefit from an American education. As the next hearing approaches, students, legal experts, and community supporters will be watching closely to see what the future holds for Gunaydin, the University of Minnesota 🇺🇸, and the rules that shape the lives of all international students.
Learn Today
F-1 Student Visa → A nonimmigrant visa allowing international students to pursue full-time academic studies in the United States.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → U.S. federal agency enforcing immigration laws, including arresting and detaining non-citizens for violations.
DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) → A criminal offense involving operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
Deportation Hearing → A legal proceeding in immigration court to determine if someone will be removed from the United States.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) → A U.S. government agency overseeing immigration enforcement and the administration of related laws and policies.
This Article in a Nutshell
Dogukan Gunaydin, a Turkish graduate student, faces deportation after a DWI led to his F-1 visa revocation. ICE detained him in March 2025. The postponed deportation hearing highlights stresses for international students navigating strict U.S. immigration law, sparking debate and protests about fairness, public safety, and second chances.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Doğukan Günaydın of University of Minnesota faces immigration court
• 5 Students in Minnesota Deported Citing DUI and Past offenses
• Minnesota Lawmakers to Debate Immigration Sanctuaries and Food Aid
• Immigrant Entrepreneurs Boost Northeast Minnesota Economy Amid Population Decline
• Immigrant Groups Mobilize in Minnesota Twin Cities Amid Federal Crackdown Threats
