BOSTON — Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, has been taken into custody by federal officers, marking another instance of the Trump administration’s intensified efforts against immigrants who voice their political views related to Palestinian causes. Ozturk, 30, was apprehended in a Boston suburb as she walked down the street, swiftly moved from Massachusetts, and positioned at an ICE detention center in Louisiana before a court intervention could prevent her relocation. Her sudden detention is part of a broader trend where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expedites the handling of immigrant cases by relocating them to detention centers or deporting them before federal judicial review can take place.
Government officials claim that Ozturk was detained due to alleged involvement in activities supporting Hamas, labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Despite these claims, no concrete evidence has been provided to substantiate her support for Hamas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that her arrest aligns with the revocation of visas for over 300 individuals, indicating a crackdown on foreign nationals perceived as threatening U.S. interests.
Ozturk’s peers and friends portray her as not being closely engaged with student protests or Muslim activism on campus. According to those who know her, her activism was limited to co-authoring an opinion piece in a student newspaper, advocating for Tufts University to consider divestment from entities connected to Israel. Her friend, Jennifer Hoyden, stated that Rumeysa’s involvement in activism was largely exaggerated, recalling her as more of a community organizer who once arranged a Thanksgiving gathering than someone deeply entrenched in political agitation.
The timing of Ozturk’s detention has sparked questions amid ongoing tensions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, which saw significant bloodshed this year. The backlash from the latest violence has placed pro-Palestinian activities under heightened scrutiny in the U.S., with the Trump administration indicating readiness to deport individuals involved in what it perceives as ‘anti-American’ activities linked to terrorism. Another recent example includes the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist at Columbia University, facing potential deportation.
Fearing the increased anti-Palestinian sentiment and immigration enforcement, a rally held in Somerville City Hall attracted hundreds in support of Ozturk and broader Palestinian rights, with speakers criticizing both U.S. immigration policy and Israel. Carina Kurban, a Lebanese American, emphasized the importance of speaking up for those under threat of losing their rights, remarking on the foundational value of free speech in American society.
Video footage of Ozturk’s arrest shows ICE officers, largely with their faces covered, apprehending her while she was heading to an iftar gathering with friends, a meal traditionally shared at sunset during Ramadan. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, reiterated that no formal charges were laid against her client. Legal efforts are underway to secure Ozturk’s release, including an emergency motion filed to prevent her relocation, which was undermined as she was already transferred out of state.
A federal judge has demanded an explanation from the government regarding Ozturk’s swift detention and relocation, insisting that she should not be moved from the Massachusetts district without due process. The facility in Louisiana where she is detained hosts immigrants either awaiting legal hearings or facing deportation. Tufts University, supporting Ozturk’s rights, has expressed concern over her detainment and is seeking to ensure that she has the opportunity to pursue her legal options.
Ozturk’s presence in a controversial op-ed last March, calling for the university to recognize Palestinian struggles and reconsider ties with Israel, attracted considerable attention. Her contributions to the debate on campus policy were noted by Canary Mission, an organization flagging individuals who it believes incite anti-U.S. and anti-Israel sentiments among North American academic institutions.