Federal immigration authorities detained Sumith Gunasekera, a longtime faculty member at Ferris State University, after concluding he lacked legal status due to decades‑old criminal charges in Canada, according to government statements and reporting. The university confirmed the faculty member’s removal and said it is coordinating with legal counsel and affected departments. The government’s assertion cites 1998 Canadian charges, including a sex offense; university leaders say they are evaluating impacts on teaching assignments, research supervision and student services. Faculty advocates and union representatives decried the sudden detention and raised concerns about vetting, notification and the academic workforce’s vulnerability to immigration enforcement. Higher education human‑resources and compliance officials say such cases have ripple effects on accreditation, advising continuity and graduate student mentorship, particularly when faculty hold specialized roles. The incident has prompted calls for clearer university protocols for managing employee immigration issues and more robust legal support for affected campuses. Legal advocates are exploring due‑process questions and the circumstances of the agency’s action; universities nationwide are watching for potential shifts in enforcement that could affect international hires and long‑tenured foreign‑born faculty.