On March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk was on her way to meet friends when masked individuals apprehended her, an incident captured on surveillance video. CBS News+2AP News+2WSJ+2AP News+3New York Post+3CBS News+3
DHS alleges that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, leading to the revocation of her student visa. However, specific evidence supporting these claims has not been publicly disclosed. Ozturk’s attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, asserts that she maintained valid F-1 status and was detained without formal charges. The Guardian+3New York Post+3CBS News+3Al Jazeera+2CBS News+2AP News+2
Ozturk has been active in pro-Palestinian movements, previously criticizing Tufts University’s handling of anti-Israel protests and advocating for divestment from Israel. Her detention appears to be part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration, targeting international students involved in such activism. New York Magazine+4New York Post+4The Guardian+4
Following her arrest, Ozturk was transported to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Louisiana. A federal judge had ordered that she not be moved from Massachusetts without notification, but it’s unclear whether this occurred before or after her transfer. The Turkish Embassy is providing consular and legal support. The Guardian+4WBUR+4WSJ+4AP News+1Newsweek+1
The incident has sparked significant outcry. Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the arrest as part of “an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties.” Over a thousand people gathered near Tufts University to demand Ozturk’s release. Tufts University stated they were unaware of the detention prior to its occurrence. New York Magazine+11WBUR+11Al Jazeera+11Al Jazeera+1WSJ+1WSJ
Ozturk’s lawyer has filed a writ of habeas corpus, challenging the legality of her detention and seeking her release. The case continues to develop amid growing concerns over academic freedom and the treatment of international students in the U.S.WSJThe Guardian
TAGS: rumeysa ozturk, rumeysa ozturk tufts, tufts student detained, tufts university, tufts student rumeysa ozturk detained, tufts, ozturk, tufts student, tufts university student detained, tufts university student rumeysa ozturk, slate
