Federal agents swooped in to detain a Turkish medical student at Tufts University, sparking a legal showdown over immigration enforcement. The case has now caught national attention after a judge blocked her immediate deportation despite serious allegations of terrorist support.
At a glance:
• A federal judge ruled Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Tufts University student, cannot be deported without a court order
• Department of Homeland Security accuses Ozturk of supporting Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization
• Ozturk was detained near her off-campus apartment and transferred to a Louisiana ICE detention center
• Tufts University confirmed Ozturk’s visa was terminated but stated they had no prior knowledge of the incident
• This case is part of a broader trend of university students being detained by ICE in recent weeks
Terror Support Allegations Lead to Student’s Detention
The Department of Homeland Security has made serious accusations against Rumeysa Ozturk, the student snatched on the street by federal agents, claiming she actively supported Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Ozturk, a medical graduate student at Tufts University, was detained by federal authorities near her off-campus apartment in Somerville before being transferred to a Louisiana ICE detention facility.
DHS officials defended their actions by emphasizing that foreign nationals are merely “granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa.” The department further stated that “DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.”
The detention operation involved undercover officers and was executed swiftly, leading to her immediate transfer out of state. Ozturk had Co-Authored an op-ed criticizing Tufts University’s response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, which may have put her on the radar of federal authorities.
Judge Halts Deportation Proceedings
U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper intervened in the case, ruling that Ozturk cannot be removed from the United States without a court order. The judge stated: “To allow the Court’s resolution of its jurisdiction to decide the petition, Ozturk shall not be removed from the United States until further order of this court.”
Judge Casper has ordered the government to respond to an updated complaint filed by Ozturk’s lawyers by Tuesday. The court is currently determining whether it has jurisdiction over Ozturk’s case, particularly since she was removed from Massachusetts to Louisiana.
Tufts University has distanced itself from the controversy, confirming that Ozturk’s visa was terminated while stating they had no prior knowledge of the incident. The detention came as a surprise to many in the university community who were unaware of any ongoing investigation.
