Judge to decide whether University of Minnesota student detained by ICE can post bond
A Minneapolis judge is deciding whether a University of Minnesota graduate detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will remain in custody following a bond hearing Friday morning.
Dogukan Gunaydin, a 28-year-old Turkish citizen, is an MBA student at the Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis and was detained by ICE two weeks ago.
Homeland Security officials say Gunaydin's visa was revoked due to a 2023 DWI arrest in Minneapolis.
Gunaydin's attorney, Hannah Brown, argued during the hearing that he has expressed remorse for the DWI, understands the seriousness of his arrest, and even sold his car as a form of personal punishment so he couldn't drive anymore.
The state is arguing for him to remain in custody, saying his blood alcohol was near 0.2% when he was arrested in June of 2023 and that they view him as a public safety concern.
His supporters disagree with the state's reasoning.
"Supporting international students' rights, supporting immigrants' rights," John Humphrey said. "Just unfair use of the law being applied to people it shouldn't be applied to."
Many students and protestors could not get inside Fort Snelling Immigration Court for Friday's hearing.
Judge Sarah B. Mazzie, who oversaw the bond hearing, says she will have a written decision on whether Gunaydin can post bond. It's unknown when that decision could be made.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Police dash cam video of the 2023 arrest shows Gunaydin saying he feared deportation after officers told him a breathalyzer test showed he was three times over the legal limit.
"I should not have done this," Gunaydin said in the dash cam video. "I just don't want this to be the reason that I go back to the third-world country, that I just f****** die from a terrorist organization."
Court records show that in March 2024, when Gunaydin petitioned to enter a guilty plea, he stated, "I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States, my plea of guilty may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization as a United States citizen."
But Gunaydin's lawyer said he has already served his time, and had lawful student status when his visa was revoked just hours after his detainment.
Earlier this week, Gunaydin appeared in court virtually from the Sherburne County Jail. Federal prosecutors accuse him of being a public safety and national security threat.
Gunaydin is now suing President Trump and other officials, alleging his continued detainment is unlawful.
University officials said they had no prior knowledge from ICE of his arrest.
Gunaydin's neighbor told WCCO earlier this month that his dog was left behind after the arrest.
"I didn't realize he had been gone this long. The dog has barked at the door the last couple days and I didn't realize it was like this, but someone's got to get in and deal with that dog," his neighbor said.
Gunaydin's arrest coincided with the detainment of a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
"A lot of our international students are very scared and worried about their future," said Jameel Haque, an associate professor of history at MSU-Mankato.
MSU officials say five other students have also had their visas revoked.
This is a developing story. Stay with WCCO.com for more.
