A Boston federal judge shifted the case of a detained Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University to Vermont on Friday. This student, Rumeysa Ozturk, had initially been detained in Vermont before being transferred to an immigration facility in Louisiana. Ozturk, 30, was apprehended by immigration officials while walking in Somerville, a Boston suburb, on March 25. After her arrest, she was initially taken to holding in New Hampshire and then Vermont, before being flown to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Basile, Louisiana the very next day.
Ozturk is one among several individuals linked to American universities who have been affected after partaking in demonstrations or expressing support for Palestinians amidst the Gaza conflict. These actions have led to visa revocations or denials of entry into the United States. Her legal team filed for her release in Massachusetts, but the Justice Department pushed back, arguing the petition was incorrectly filed and needed to be removed or sent to Louisiana.
Her attorneys claimed they submitted the petition while unaware of her exact location. They argued it was appropriate to file it in Boston as Ozturk was in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts-based ICE officials. U.S. District Judge Denise Casper subsequently transferred the case to Vermont, considering Ozturk had been detained there when her petition was initiated. She invoked a federal law allowing such a transfer if it benefits justice.
“The District of Vermont is the correct court because Ozturk was held there overnight when the petition was filed,” Judge Casper noted, leaving Vermont the task of deciding if it has jurisdiction after Ozturk’s relocation to Louisiana.
Ozturk’s legal representatives have argued that her detention breaches her constitutional rights to free speech and due process. They called for her immediate return to Massachusetts and release from custody. Although Judge Casper did not delve into the petition’s content, she acknowledged that the case presents “serious issues” regarding Ozturk’s arrest and detention.
“This decision moves us closer to vindicating Rumeysa Ozturk’s rights,” stated her attorney Mahsa Khanbabai, “and underscores that the government cannot arbitrarily shift jurisdiction to target human rights allies unjustly.” She emphasized the importance of insisting on Ozturk’s prompt release and safe return home.
Without giving supporting details, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson had previously suggested that investigations revealed Ozturk had taken part in activities supporting Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. Ozturk had also contributed to an opinion piece in The Tufts Daily, critiquing the university’s stance on student activism calling for recognition of Palestinian suffering and divestment from Israeli-affiliated ventures.
Ozturk’s lawyer released a statement from her on Thursday, highlighting her research at the graduate level, engaging with children and youth. She vowed to continue opposing injustice. “A world where we listen to each other and embrace diverse perspectives is more harmonious and beautiful,” Ozturk shared.