Another HBCU athlete has been released from federal ICE custody.
Mississippi Valley State basketball player Qingfang Pang was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Tuesday after nearly three weeks in detention over an apparent visa issue tied to his transfer between colleges.
Pang was arrested at Greenville airport while attempting to return to New York to seek help from his guardian in resolving his immigration status, according to WJTV. He was subsequently taken to a detention center in Monroe, Louisiana.
The issue stemmed from an apparent complication involving a visa extension after Pang transferred from Monroe University in New York to Mississippi Valley State.
Pang was released Oct. 20 and said he hopes to return to campus, resume his studies and rejoin the Delta Devils basketball team.
“I am thankful to everyone who supported me during this difficult time,” Pang said in a statement. He thanked his family, coach Mike Davis, the assistant coaches, his teammates and Mississippi Valley State for their support.
“I am looking forward to going back to school, catching up on my classes, and playing basketball again for Mississippi Valley State,” he said.
Pang also credited members of Congress, including Mississippi senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, for helping move his case forward. He thanked the Department of Homeland Security for its consideration.
Marcus Session, an attorney with Session and Associates, said Pang’s immediate goal is to resolve the visa issue and move forward.
“He’s a strong kid. He’s a very strong kid,” said Session, who represented Pang. “He just wants to be free. … He wants to get this visa situation cleared up.”
Attorney Nicole Francis Reynolds said navigating immigration requirements alongside NCAA transfer rules and legal proceedings requires coordination.
Mississippi Valley State completed the I-20 form, while Session completed and filed the I-539 application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Reynolds said.
Pang’s legal team said his focus is returning to campus, catching up on coursework and rejoining his teammates. He has also asked for privacy for himself and his family as they navigate the legal process.
Pang is scheduled to appear in court in Louisiana on Oct. 27.
Pang’s release comes weeks after Kentucky State women’s basketball player Aminata “Amina” Seck was held by ICE for months before her eventual release.
