Ethiopia: U.S. Judge Denies Bond for Ethiopian-Born University Instructor Held in Ice Detention
[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba -- An immigration judge has denied a request to release Dr. Berhanu Kibret, an Ethiopian-born instructor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, keeping him in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention nearly a month after he was arrested at a Texas airport.
On 14 August, an immigration judge in Colorado denied Dr. Berhanu Kibret's request for bond, continuing his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his arrest at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on 21 July 2026. Kibret, an Ethiopian-born instructor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, appeared virtually for the hearing.
His attorney, Saron Berhe, argued for release, but the judge ruled against it, citing insufficient evidence weighing. Kibret maintains he has valid employment authorization and is awaiting a pending immigration application. DHS accuses him of overstaying a visa that expired in May 2024. Kibret, recognized as a Teacher of the Year by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, was returning from a professional conference when arrested.
The University of Maryland has gathered support letters from colleagues and school leaders, emphasizing his strong ties to the community and good moral character. Kibret, who joined the university in 2023, teaches first-year pharmacy students. The detention has sparked concerns among Maryland's academic community, particularly as several international academics have been detained at airports amid heightened federal immigration enforcement.
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