A routine Saturday on the Edmonds College Lynnwood campus took a sharp turn when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a 48-year-old student on school grounds on June 13, according to the college and federal officials. The man was taken into federal custody following the on-campus arrest.
According to KING 5, ICE said the man arrived from Colombia in May 2018, overstayed his visa, and had been expected to leave the U.S. by November 2019. ICE stated he is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and is awaiting return to Colombia.
College Says Staff Followed Policy
Edmonds College officials said campus personnel moved quickly and followed established procedures when federal agents showed up, and college leadership is now reviewing how the incident unfolded. President Dr. Amit B. Singh wrote that he "cares about the safety of students and will communicate more quickly if incidents occur," according to KING 5.
Student Privacy And Resources
Edmonds College posts guidance for visa-holding students that explains how the school handles requests for student records and lists key contacts in international student services. For details and support contacts, see the Edmonds College visa-holders page.
What Happens Next
ICE says the man did not obtain legal status that would allow him to remain in the U.S., and officials report that routine removal procedures are now underway. He remains in federal custody at the Tacoma processing center while authorities coordinate travel arrangements and paperwork to return him to Colombia.
Neither ICE nor college officials immediately released the student's name or further case details. Edmonds College has directed questions to campus security and its international student office, and students with concerns are being encouraged to reach out to those offices for information and support.
