University of Maryland professor denied bond, remains in ICE custody
By Marshall Keely
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BALTIMORE (WBAL) — 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.
“During this process of receiving this award and returning back, he was arrested and detained and transferred I believe to Oklahoma. You can see how disturbing, scary, annoying this is,” said Emmanuel Onaivi, a professor of biology at William Paterson University and Kibret’s former colleague.
Kibret has been held at the Diamondback Correctional Facility in rural Oklahoma since his arrest on July 21.
His former colleague said Kibret has a wife and two children in Africa and praised his research on drug abuse.
In a statement, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Sarah L. J. Michel said:
“The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is disappointed by the news that Dr. Berhanu Kibret was not granted bond and remains in detention. We are concerned for his welfare but remain hopeful this matter will be resolved soon. We are continuing to monitor this situation and evaluating the impact on the fall semester and on the students who Dr. Kibret serves.” Kibret’s attorney said the judge provided a reason for the bond denial but could not share further details about the case.
ICE released the following statement on Kibret’s case that read in part:
“Berhanu Geresu Kibret is an illegal alien from Ethiopia. He entered the United States lawfully on June 21, 2021, at Newark, New Jersey, but violated the terms of his admission by remaining in the United States for more than two years after his authorized stay expired on May 31, 2024.” “ICE Dallas arrested Kibret without incident on July 21 at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. He remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of immigration proceedings. Kibret had an immigration hearing on Aug. 17 and was denied bond due to potential flight risk.”
Immigration court records for Kibret’s case do not list any future hearing dates.
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