University of Maryland professor denied bond, remains in ICE custody
University of Maryland professor Berhanu Kibret remains in ICE custody after being denied bond following his arrest at an airport. Despite support from academic colleagues, federal authorities continue to hold him due to an expired visa.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of academic freedom, immigration enforcement, and the personal impact of strict visa policies on international scholars.
A University of Maryland School of Pharmacy professor, Berhanu Kibret, remains in ICE custody nearly a month after being arrested at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport while returning from receiving a national teaching award.
Kibret’s attorney said he should not have been arrested and argued for his release during a bond hearing on Friday .
The federal immigration judge handling the case denied the request on Monday night.
The attorney said Kibret has valid work authorization and was on a period of authorized stay after applying for relief on his J-1 visa. ICE said Kibret, an Ethiopian national, entered the U.S. legally, but his visa expired in May 2024.
During Friday’s hearing, lawyers submitted 18 letters of support for Kibret, many from colleagues at the University of Maryland and his former workplace, William Paterson University in New Jersey.
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