Boston: U.S. immigration authorities have detained and revoked the visa of a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University near Boston, citing alleged support for Hamas. The arrest of Rumeysa Ozturk has sparked concerns over free speech and academic freedom, with critics accusing the Trump administration of targeting foreign students engaged in pro-Palestinian activism.
Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Fulbright Scholar studying Child Study and Human Development, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. A video of the arrest shows masked and plainclothes agents detaining her as she was reportedly on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends.
Government Justification and Legal Action
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated on X that Ozturk had “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” McLaughlin emphasized that “a visa is a privilege, not a right.”
However, DHS has not provided specific details regarding Ozturk’s alleged activities. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, argues that her client is being targeted for exercising free speech. Ozturk co-authored an opinion piece in the Tufts Daily last year, criticizing the university’s stance on calls to divest from companies linked to Israel and urging recognition of what she referred to as “the Palestinian genocide.”
US immigration authorities have detained and revoked the visa of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University. Ozturk had voiced support for Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza https://t.co/YXTXgTwxtQ pic.twitter.com/hD8aJzNjKn
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 28, 2025
Khanbabai swiftly filed a lawsuit, contending that Ozturk’s detention was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ordered that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide 48 hours’ notice before relocating her out of Massachusetts. Despite this, Ozturk was transferred to Louisiana by Wednesday night, a move that Khanbabai condemned as a violation of the court order.
“People should be horrified at the way DHS spirited away Rumeysa in broad daylight,” Khanbabai said, calling the accusations against her client “baseless.”
Political and Public Reactions
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts described the arrest as “the latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties.” The case has drawn significant public attention, with large demonstrations in Somerville demanding Ozturk’s release. Protesters carried signs reading “Resist,” “Defend Student Voices,” and “Release Rumeysa Ozturk Now!”
Tufts University President Sunil Kumar stated that the institution had no prior knowledge of the arrest, acknowledging that it would be “distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community.”
The Turkish embassy in Washington has also weighed in, confirming that it is in contact with U.S. authorities, including the State Department and ICE. “Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizen,” the embassy said in a statement.
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Wider Crackdown on International Students
Ozturk’s detention follows a pattern of immigration enforcement actions against foreign students and scholars involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy.
Earlier this month, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and lawful U.S. permanent resident, was arrested after President Trump, without providing evidence, accused him of supporting Hamas—an allegation Khalil denies. Federal officials are also attempting to detain a South Korean-born Columbia student involved in similar protests, though courts have temporarily blocked the move.
Additionally, a Lebanese doctor and Brown University assistant professor, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, was denied re-entry to the U.S. and deported to Lebanon after authorities claimed her phone contained photos “sympathetic” to Hezbollah. Alawieh denies supporting the group but acknowledged respecting its slain leader due to her religious beliefs.
The Trump administration has also been scrutinizing students at Cornell University, Georgetown University, and the University of Alabama for their involvement in pro-Palestinian activism.
