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Turkish PhD Student Released After Judge Rules ICE Detention Violated Rights

Rümeysa Öztürk, held over a pro-Palestinian op-ed, returns to Massachusetts as the Trump administration pledges to continue deportation efforts.

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People gather for a rally in support of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk and Columbia University student activist Mohsen Mahdawi in Foley Square, on May 6, 2025, in New York City.
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Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk appears at a press conference after returning to Massachusetts following her detention at an ICE facility in Louisiana.

Overview

  • Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was released from ICE detention in Louisiana following a federal judge's ruling that her detention violated due process and First Amendment rights.
  • The Trump administration revoked Öztürk’s student visa in March, citing national security concerns based on an op-ed she co-authored advocating for divestment from companies tied to Israel, but presented no evidence beyond the article.
  • Judge William Sessions III emphasized the lack of evidence supporting the detention and raised concerns about the chilling effect on free speech for non-citizens in the U.S.
  • Öztürk suffered 12 asthma attacks during her six weeks in detention, with her health risks cited as a factor in the judge's decision to release her on bail.
  • Returning to Massachusetts, Öztürk vowed to continue her legal fight, while the Trump administration signaled intentions to pursue her deportation, with her next court date set for May 22 in Vermont.