A Long Island resident who just picked up his degree from the University at Buffalo is now in federal immigration custody instead of back home in New York. Nadir Hassan, a recent UB graduate, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, Texas, after traveling there for a national engineering competition, according to his family and university officials. Friends and faculty describe him as a standout student who had just wrapped up his studies and was expected to return to the New York City area, and his detention has classmates and professors scrambling to write letters of support while they press federal authorities for answers.
Detained After National Steel‑Bridge Finals in El Paso
Hassan traveled to El Paso to compete in the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Steel Bridge Competition, the national finals hosted this month at the University of Texas at El Paso. The event drew hundreds of students from dozens of programs, as reported by KVIA. It was after that competition, relatives say, that ICE agents took him into custody in the border city.
His University Record
University records show Hassan completed a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design with a minor in Architecture this spring, according to UB's commencement program. On his publicly viewable profile on LinkedIn, Hassan lists leadership roles on the American Society of Civil Engineers steel‑bridge team, including Fabrication Lead and Safety Officer, highlighting his involvement in building and assembling the competition bridge.
Family And University Seek Answers
According to reporting by WGRZ, Hassan was detained by ICE agents in Texas after the event. The station reported that the university provided letters of support from faculty, classmates and student organizations. WGRZ also noted that Hassan graduated from Jericho High School on Long Island, enrolled at UB in fall 2022, and that his family said he had planned to head back to the New York City area once the competition wrapped up.
What Happens Next
When someone is taken into ICE custody, they typically enter immigration proceedings that can include bond hearings or requests for voluntary departure while the case is adjudicated, according to Department of Justice guidance on voluntary departure (EOIR/DOJ). UB’s International Student Services advises students and families in such situations to contact campus police and ISS to help locate legal counsel and other support during detention proceedings, and the university has posted messages and resources for international students on its website.
Wider Trend On Campus
Advocates and reporters have documented a recent wave of immigration enforcement actions affecting students and academics, prompting universities across the country to update guidance and expand support for their international communities. Coverage of detention centers and shifting enforcement policies has amplified concerns among campus leaders and student groups, as major news outlets have noted in their reporting on the broader picture.
Hassan’s family and UB officials say they are continuing to push for more information as legal steps move forward and as classmates circulate letters and online messages of support. For now, they say the specific circumstances behind his detention remain under review by federal authorities, while the university continues to offer assistance to those involved.
