University of Maryland pharmacy instructor detained by ICE after award ceremony
ICE arrested University of Maryland pharmacy instructor Berhanu Kibret at a Texas airport, citing an expired visa, shortly after he received a teacher-of-the-year honor.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Berhanu Kibret, an instructor at the University of Maryland’s pharmacy school, when he arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas. The agency, under the Department of Homeland Security, cited an expired visa that had been valid from June 2021 to May 2024 as the reason for his arrest. Kibret had just returned from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy meeting where he was honored as teacher of the year.
The university stressed that he holds a legitimate work authorization and urged a swift resolution so he can resume his duties. The incident mirrors a July ICE detention of Johns Hopkins researcher Fatima Ameaka, intensifying worries among scholars about immigration enforcement on campuses. University officials described Kibret as a valued and beloved educator, noting the broader sense of unease his case has generated among staff and students.
Why it matters
The case highlights how immigration enforcement can disrupt academic work and raise concerns about visa security for scholars.
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