PhD student Alireza Doroudi was abducted by ICE early this week and transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. The University of Alabama has been criticized for its silence and lack of intervention regarding his case, raising concerns that the institution may be tacitly complicit in authoritarian practices that target vulnerable international students.

A doctoral student from Iran at the University of Alabama was detained by ICE. The university confirmed the incident and stated it would cooperate with federal authorities while emphasizing its support for international students.

On March 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into the University of Alabama over allegations of race‐based scholarship practices and segregated programming. The probe, part of a broader review of diversity-focused initiatives under directives from Trump-era appointees, has raised concerns among advocates who view these measures as essential for promoting equity and addressing systemic racial inequality.

University of Alabama professors and UAB students filed a legal motion seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of Senate Bill 129, a law that restricts teaching 'divisive concepts' and DEI programs on campuses. The motion, filed on January 14, 2025, argues that the law violates constitutional rights to free speech and due process, undermining academic freedom.

University of Alabama officials are named as defendants in a federal lawsuit alleging that, by discontinuing DEI programs and imposing censorship measures in compliance with a state law, they have undermined academic freedom and marginalized community support. The lawsuit, driven by concerned students and professors, highlights how the enforcement of these policies restricts inclusive dialogue and equity-focused initiatives on campus.

A lawsuit filed by college professors, students, and advocacy groups challenges Alabama’s new law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, alleging that it curtails free speech and disproportionately harms marginalized groups. The lawsuit names the University of Alabama among others after the institution shuttered or rebranded its DEI offices in response to the law.

A federal lawsuit alleges that officials in the University of Alabama System enforced state-mandated restrictions on DEI programs by dismantling key diversity initiatives, such as the campus Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center, and by threatening professors with termination for teaching anti-oppression courses. The action is seen as curtailing free academic discourse and marginalizing minority voices.

Data from OpenSecrets indicates that the University of Alabama spent $240,000 on lobbying activities in 2024, as documented in their public lobbying profile.

The University of Alabama closed its Black Student Union office and queer resource center in compliance with a recent state law banning public universities from dedicating resources to DEI programs, leaving marginalized student communities with reduced targeted support.

The University of Alabama closed its Black Student Union office and queer resource center in compliance with a state law banning the allocation of resources to DEI programs. This move compromises vital support for marginalized students and reflects complicity with policies that undermine diversity and inclusion.

The University of Alabama has closed dedicated spaces for its Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center due to a new state law banning publicly-funded DEI initiatives, sparking concerns among affected communities about the loss of safe spaces and institutional support for marginalized groups.

In compliance with recent state legislation banning the allocation of resources to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, the University of Alabama closed the Black Student Union office and queer resource center. This decision has negatively impacted support structures for marginalized student communities on campus.

In compliance with a new Republican-backed Alabama law, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa shuttered its longstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office and replaced it with a new division focused on student success. This move, echoed across the University of Alabama System campuses, signals a rollback of progressive initiatives designed to support marginalized communities.