The risk seemed far too great.
Portland State University graduate student Abdul Almutairi discovered on Thursday that he was one of 23 international students in Oregon targeted by the Trump administration for deportation.
Haunted by video footage of a Tufts University graduate student who was taken by federal agents and sent to an immigration detention center in Louisiana, Almutairi made a quick decision.
Despite being just months away from earning his doctoral degree in physics at PSU, he rushed to his apartment, packed what he could carry, and headed for Seattle, where he boarded a plane back home to Kuwait.
The Department of Homeland Security gave no explanation for terminating Almutairi’s visa, according to his graduate school supervisor, physics professor Erik Sanchez.
He stated that his student did absolutely nothing wrong.
“This is really, really upsetting,” Sanchez remarked.
“If you met him, you would love him. He’s amazing. This is wrong. People need to know that this is happening and this is wrong.”
Another physics professor at PSU, Jay Nadeau, voiced similar sentiments about Almutairi.
She described him as “a terrific student,” adding, “we don’t know why they went after him.”
The Trump administration has ordered the removal of international students across the United States and Oregon, including two others at PSU.
Oregon State University has reported the highest number of student visa revocations, with 13 students facing orders to leave the country as of last week.
Despite the widespread impact, Almutairi is the first in Oregon to come forward publicly regarding his situation.
Although he was hesitant to answer questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive, he allowed himself to be named by the newspaper.
Sanchez mentioned that Almutairi received support from PSU officials and consulted with an immigration attorney after learning about his visa revocation last week.
Still, feeling he had no choice, he decided to leave the country immediately.
The uncertainty of detention loomed large over him; he had no idea where he might end up — or for how long.
Sanchez, whose work focuses on the development of novel forms of energy, is working with university officials to try to maintain Almutairi’s enrollment, so he can still earn his Ph.D. this summer.
Sanchez referred to Almutairi as his “top student” and highlighted that he was conducting research as part of a three-year, $800,000 Department of Energy grant aimed at studying fusion, an energy release process, utilizing the university’s fusion reactor.
Specifically, Almutairi was aiding in the development of a new imaging system to enhance the efficiency of fusion reactors, Sanchez noted.
“He has been a critical person for our own reactor design and improvement, in addition to helping our nation’s fusion efforts,” he added.
The grant itself was initially cut by the Trump administration, Sanchez stated, but it was later reinstated through a court injunction.
Now, Sanchez faces the challenge of finding someone to fill Almutairi’s role, as he spoke with his graduate school supervisor on Monday, still appearing quite shaken.
“He was only months away from getting his Ph.D.,” Sanchez lamented.
“This makes no sense at all.”
— Yesenia Amaro is an investigative reporter focused on social issues and communities of color.
Do you have a news tip related to immigration, deportations, or publicly funded programs designed to help immigrant Oregonians?
Get in touch at 503-221-4395; [email protected].
image source from：https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/04/18/portland-physics-student-flees-trump-crackdown-months-from-earning-his-doctorate/
