US immigration officials have detained a Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University, located near Boston, and revoked her visa after she expressed support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Supporters of Rumeysa Ozturk claim that her detention, which occurred late on Tuesday, marks the first known immigration arrest of a Boston-area student involved in such activism under the Trump administration. This administration has previously detained or attempted to detain several foreign-born students legally residing in the US who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
These actions have been criticized as an infringement on free speech, although the Trump administration contends that certain protests are anti-Semitic and may jeopardize US foreign policy.
A video capturing the arrest depicted masked agents in plain clothes apprehending the 30-year-old near her residence in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday evening, as she was reportedly on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast, according to her attorney.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated in a post on X that authorities concluded Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that delights in the killing of Americans.”
“A visa is a privilege, not a right,” McLaughlin emphasized.
She did not clarify the specific activities that led to Ozturk’s detention. Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar enrolled in Tufts’ doctoral program in child study and human development, had been in the US on an F-1 visa for her studies.
Her arrest occurred a year after she co-authored an opinion piece in the Tufts Daily, the university’s student newspaper, which criticized Tufts’ response to student calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel and urged the acknowledgment of what they termed the Palestinian genocide.
“Given the patterns we are observing nationwide, it seems that her exercise of free speech rights may have contributed to her detention,” remarked Mahsa Khanbabai, Ozturk’s attorney.
Following Ozturk’s arrest, Khanbabai initiated a lawsuit late Tuesday, claiming her detention was unlawful. This prompted US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston to issue an order that night, requiring US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide at least 48 hours’ notice before transferring Ozturk out of Massachusetts.
However, by Wednesday evening, Ozturk had been moved to Louisiana, contrary to the court’s directive, according to Khanbabai. She characterized the allegations against Ozturk as “baseless” and expressed that the manner in which the Department of Homeland Security removed Rumeysa in broad daylight should alarm the public.
Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts condemned the arrest as part of a troubling trend aimed at suppressing civil liberties. This incident sparked a significant protest in Somerville, where demonstrators displayed signs reading “Resist,” “Defend student voices,” and “Release Rumeysa Ozturk now!”
Ozturk’s arrest was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to target international students amid a broader crackdown on immigration, which includes increasing immigration arrests and imposing strict limitations on border crossings.
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have specifically vowed to deport foreign pro-Palestinian demonstrators, accusing them of supporting Hamas militants, which they claim undermines US foreign policy and promotes anti-Semitism.
Protesters, including various Jewish organizations, argue that the administration incorrectly equates their criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism and support for Hamas.
Tufts University President Sunil Kumar stated that the institution had no prior knowledge of the arrest, acknowledging that it would be “distressing to some members of our community, particularly those from our international community.”
The Turkish embassy in Washington has stated that it is coordinating with the US State Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other relevant authorities regarding Ozturk’s detention. The embassy emphasized that “every effort is being made to provide consular services and legal support to safeguard the rights of our citizen.”
Ozturk’s arrest occurred less than three weeks after Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University and a lawful permanent resident, was similarly apprehended. Khalil is contesting his detention following accusations from Trump, who claimed, without evidence, that he supported Hamas, a charge Khalil refutes.
Additionally, federal immigration officials are attempting to detain a South Korean-born student at Columbia University, who is a legal permanent resident and has engaged in pro-Palestinian demonstrations; however, this action has currently been halted by the courts.
This month, a Lebanese doctor and assistant professor at Brown University in Rhode Island was denied re-entry into the US and deported to Lebanon after the Trump administration claimed her phone contained images deemed “sympathetic” to Hezbollah. Rasha Alawieh has stated that she does not support the militant organization but respects its deceased leader due to her religious beliefs.
The Trump administration has also focused on students at Cornell University in New York, Georgetown University in Washington, and the University of Alabama.
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