Know the main points about Tufts College PhD scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, detained by federal authorities
Tufts College PhD scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish nationwide, was detained by federal authorities on March 25, 2025, whereas strolling close to her residence in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk, a psychology scholar, was headed to an Iftar dinner when she was arrested by plainclothes immigration officers. Her detention has raised issues about US immigration practices, tutorial freedom, and the therapy of worldwide college students.
The arrest has turn into a degree of controversy, particularly as Ozturk’s authorized group and household preserve that her detention is linked to her vocal assist of Palestinian rights. As reported by CNN, Ozturk’s arrest was sudden, and he or she was bodily restrained by officers earlier than being moved to a detention middle in Louisiana. The precise causes behind her arrest stay unclear, with federal officers stating solely that she allegedly engaged in actions in assist of Hamas, although no formal costs have been filed.
Background on Rumeysa Ozturk
Ozturk, 30, has been within the US since 2018 on a legitimate F-1 visa, which allows worldwide college students to pursue full-time tutorial research. She received a Fulbright scholarship and accomplished her grasp’s diploma at Columbia College earlier than beginning her PhD at Tufts. As reported by CNN, Ozturk’s brother, Asim, talked about that she was engaged on her dissertation when she was detained, with about 10 months remaining to finish her doctorate.
Ozturk had been concerned in scholar activism, together with co-writing an op-ed in March 2024 criticizing Tufts College’s response to a scholar authorities’s name for divestment from firms linked to Israel. Within the op-ed, she condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them “credible accusations of deliberate hunger and indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians.” Her brother believes that her detention is politically motivated, suggesting that her assist for Palestine led to her being focused by US immigration authorities.
The arrest and aftermath
On the night of March 25, surveillance footage obtained by the Muslim Justice League reveals six plainclothes officers surrounding Ozturk as she walked alone. Within the video, she is seen being restrained and escorted into an SUV after officers recognized themselves. Based on her lawyer, Masha Khanbabai, Ozturk was not allowed to talk with a lawyer for over 24 hours after her arrest. She was later transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana.
Her detention follows comparable arrests of different worldwide college students concerned in activism. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia College graduate, was additionally arrested earlier this month, as reported by CNN. Each circumstances are a part of a broader development of heightened scrutiny on overseas college students, significantly these engaged in political activism.
Tufts College’s response
Tufts College President Sunil Kumar expressed concern over the arrest, stating that the college had no prior information of Ozturk’s detention. As quoted by CNN, he emphasised that Tufts was doing every little thing in its energy to assist its worldwide group. Protests had been held on the college on March 26, with a whole lot of scholars rallying in assist of Ozturk, criticizing the US authorities’s therapy of overseas college students and activists.
Ozturk’s household and authorized group are looking for her instant launch, arguing that her detention violates her due course of rights. The Turkish authorities can also be concerned, with consular companies working to supply authorized assist, as reported by CNN.
