DHS Confirms Arrest of Ethiopian Researcher Over Expired Visa

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, citing an expired visa. The university said Kibret was returning from a pharmacy conference where he received the honor, adding that he holds valid work authorization and hopes the matter is resolved quickly. Kibret's research focuses on the brain's cannabinoid system, and he earned degrees in Ethiopia before a postdoctoral fellowship in New Jersey.

DHS said Kibret entered the US on June 21, 2021, with a visa expiring May 31, 2024, and overstayed. The arrest follows criticism of Trump administration deportation efforts, with a Guardian analysis finding 77% of those newly placed in deportation proceedings in 2025 had no criminal convictions. Earlier in July, ICE detained and later released Fatima Ameaka, a Johns Hopkins researcher with a pending asylum case and work authorization through 2029. Kibret had been named "teacher of the year" at the conference.