Immigration judge mulls bond for University of Minnesota student in ICE custody

An immigration judge is considering whether a University of Minnesota graduate student from Turkey now in ICE custody should be released on bond or remain jailed.

Doğukan Günaydin, 28, was arrested by federal immigration agents March 27 outside his St. Paul apartment over a previous drunken-driving conviction, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His student visa was also revoked.

During a Friday bond hearing, Immigration Judge Sarah Mazzie heard arguments for and against the continued detention of the master’s student.

Arguing for his release, Günaydin’s attorney, Hannah Brown, discussed his remorse over his drunken driving conviction from 2023, calling the case a “blip on the radar.”

“He took this mistake very, very seriously,” Brown told the judge, adding that the student gave up his car following the case and does not have a driver’s license.

Günaydin, who appeared virtually from the Sherburne County jail, was expected to testify on his own behalf, but did not.

Brown further said Günaydin does not pose a danger to the public and that while he understands the grave nature of his actions, he had been driving “in the middle of the night” and heading home.

Mazzie interjected, referring to the time Günaydin was arrested as “bar time,” and said that he only stopped when a police officer pulled him over.

“What if they hadn’t?” she asked. “He would’ve continued driving, yes?”

Making the case for Günaydin to remain in jail, an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security argued that the drunken driving conviction poses a substantial public safety concern.

After hearing both sides, Mazzie said she will file a written order of her decision. She did not provide a timeline.

Günaydin’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 15, when an immigration judge will begin discussion over his removal proceedings.

Following his arrest, Günaydin filed a petition — known as a writ — in U.S. District Court on Sunday challenging his apprehension, arguing that his constitutional rights were violated when he was taken into custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, on behalf of President Donald Trump, asked the judge to dismiss the petition, contending that the court does not have the authority to review the “discretionary decision” of its agents.

Günaydin arrived in this country in 2017 to study at St. Olaf College. His drunken driving conviction followed a traffic stop in June 2023 when a Minneapolis police officer saw his car nearly hit a stoplight, jump a curb and then weave in and out of traffic.

When the officer turned on his squad lights to pull him over, Günaydin did not immediately stop, according to court records. When the officer stepped out of the squad car, Günaydin allegedly drove away. When he was finally stopped and given a chemical test, it showed a blood-alcohol concentration twice the legal limit.

He pleaded guilty in March 2024 to driving while intoxicated.