Federal authorities detained Sumith Gunasekera, a longtime faculty member at Ferris State University, asserting he is ineligible for legal status in the U.S. because of 1998 criminal charges in Canada that include a sex offense. The university community and legal observers say the action raises questions about vetting, due process and the protections afforded to long‑serving academic staff. The case could compel campus legal teams and HR offices to reassess foreign‑background screening practices for faculty and staff, and it highlights how criminal convictions abroad can create immigration vulnerabilities that ripple through teaching, research and department continuity.