A Turkish student from Tufts University made her return to Boston on Saturday following her release from a Louisiana immigration detention center after over six weeks.
Rumeysa Ozturk was met by reporters at Logan Airport upon her arrival, expressing her eagerness to resume her studies after what she described as a “very difficult” period. She reflected on the challenges faced, stating, “I have experienced the loss of both my freedom and education during a critical phase of my doctoral studies over the last 45 days.” Despite these challenges, she conveyed gratitude for the overwhelming support and care she received.
A federal judge decided on her release on Friday while she awaits a final ruling on the assertion that her detention was unlawful following an op-ed she co-authored criticizing her university’s stance on Israel and the conflict in Gaza. Ozturk intends to pursue her case further in the judicial system, expressing her trust in the American justice system.
Alongside her in Boston were her legal team and two Democratic members of Congress from Massachusetts: Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley. Markey voiced his support stating, “Today is a remarkable day as we welcome you back, Rumeysa. You have made countless individuals across our nation proud with your resilience.”
During a previous bail hearing, Ozturk, who is 30, recounted her worsening asthma attacks during her time in detention and her commitment to completing her doctorate on children and social media. A ruling by U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Vermont led to Ozturk’s release, with no travel restrictions imposed. The judge found no indication that she posed a danger to the community or risk of flight, although he noted the possibility of modifying the release conditions in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and her lawyers.
The judge pointed out that the government failed to present any evidence for her arrest aside from the op-ed. Requests for comments from the U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review were unanswered as of Friday afternoon.
Ozturk was one of four students who contributed to an opinion piece in the campus newspaper, The Tufts Daily, last year, criticizing the university’s handling of student activist demands related to Palestinian issues and Israeli affiliations. Immigration officials apprehended her in Massachusetts on March 25, subsequently transferring her across states before detaining her in Louisiana.
Though her student visa had been revoked days before her detention, according to her legal representatives, she was unaware of this. Her legal team filed a petition in Massachusetts initially but faced difficulties contacting her until over 24 hours post-detainment. The case was eventually moved to Vermont.
A State Department memo indicated the visa revocation stemmed from concerns that Ozturk’s actions “may undermine U.S. foreign policy,” allegedly creating an adverse environment for Jewish students and aligning with a terrorist group. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson in March claimed, without evidence, that Ozturk was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S.
A federal appeals court upheld Sessions’ directive for Ozturk’s return to New England for hearings focused on potential violations of her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process, as argued by her lawyers. Immigration proceedings begun in Louisiana will continue there, with Ozturk participating remotely.