BOSTON — A Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University, Rumeysa Ozturk, faced an unexpected turn this week when she was detained by immigration authorities, according to information disclosed by U.S. government attorneys. Initially captured while strolling in Somerville, a Boston suburb, on March 25, Ozturk was swiftly taken to multiple locations before ending up at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Basile, Louisiana, due to the lack of space in New England.
Ozturk’s case has drawn the attention of U.S. District Judge Denise Casper in Boston, who promptly scheduled a hearing for Thursday. Acting on a petition by Ozturk’s legal team, Judge Casper issued an order on March 28 to prevent Ozturk’s removal from the United States until further notice.
However, this legal proceeding faced a challenge from the Justice Department lawyers, who contended that Judge Casper lacked the jurisdiction to handle Ozturk’s case. They argued that any petition should be filed in the jurisdiction where Ozturk is currently detained. Hence, they requested the case either be dismissed or transferred to Louisiana, asserting that immigration court was the proper venue for contesting her detention and visa revocation.
In their legal arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter emphasized Ozturk’s ability to challenge her detention but insisted it could not be addressed in Judge Casper’s court. Ozturk was scheduled for an immigration court appearance in Louisiana on April 7.
Ozturk’s attorneys argued they were unaware of her location when filing the petition. They criticized ICE’s tactics, describing the agency’s swift relocation strategy as a secretive and unlawful maneuver to avoid accountability. At the time of filing, Ozturk was in a vehicle under the Massachusetts ICE office’s jurisdiction, justifying the petition’s filing in Boston, her lawyers contended. They proposed transferring the case to Vermont if the judge disagrees with their stance.
The legal team further argued that Ozturk’s detention infringes on her constitutional rights, including her rights to free speech and due process. They urged the court to command her return to Massachusetts and release her from detention.
In support, nearly two dozen of Ozturk’s colleagues penned letters to the court, painting her as an admired and integral part of the Tufts University community. University President Sunil Kumar praised her doctoral research and confirmed her good immigration standing at the time of her arrest—only to later find her visa unexpectedly terminated in the database.
Ozturk belongs to a group of students facing immigration dilemmas linked to their public expressions regarding Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. Specifically, she co-authored an op-ed in “The Tufts Daily” scrutinizing the university’s response to pro-Palestinian student activists’ demands. Critics are concerned about alleged visa revocations and entry denials for individuals with similar associations.
While the Department of Homeland Security reported the termination of her visa citing connections with Hamas, they provided no evidence of such involvement. In a recent statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the expectations for visa holders like Ozturk to focus on academic pursuits rather than social activism.
This development gains more intensity following the recent conflict between Hamas militants and Israel, resulting in significant casualties and geopolitical repercussions. The case of Rumeysa Ozturk becomes a focal point amidst the broader conversation about freedom of speech, academic expression, and immigration rights in the U.S.