Mississippi Valley State University men’s basketball player Qingfang Pang has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The university said in a statement it is aware of the situation and is “deeply concerned for the student’s well-being.”
Pang, who transferred to Mississippi Valley State from Monroe University in New York, is in ICE custody at the Richmond Correctional Center in Louisiana on Thursday, according to ICE’s database.
Mississippi Valley State said Pang is a full-time student, and university officials are “closely monitoring the situation and are committed to providing appropriate support as circumstances develop.”
WJTV, which initially reported the news on Wednesday night, said the student-athlete was first detained Sept. 29 for allegedly overstaying his visa. He is originally from China, and Mississippi Valley State lists his hometown as Queens, New York.
Pang had been at Mississippi Valley State for around a year, according to reporting from WJTV. Pang’s attorney, Marcus Session, told WJTV that the student-athlete was attempting to sort the visa issues out with his sponsor, a family friend in New York, before being detained.
Mississippi Valley State said only limited information could be disclosed about his educational records or personal circumstances, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“Mississippi Valley State University remains committed to the well-being of our students and will continue to respond to this matter with care, respect and appropriate regard for the student’s privacy,” the university said in a statement.
