Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on Tuesday night after expressing support for Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Ozturk, who had left her home in Somerville to meet friends and break her Ramadan fast, was detained by agents in plain clothes who did not immediately identify themselves. According to Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, the agents also confiscated her phone during the arrest.
Ozturk’s detention follows her public statements on social media expressing solidarity with Palestinians. She also co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts Daily, calling for the university to sever its ties with Israel.
In a petition filed in Boston federal court, Khanbabai argued that the arrest was politically motivated, aimed at punishing Ozturk for her views. The petition demands the reinstatement of Ozturk’s visa and her immediate release from custody.
Ozturk, a PhD student in urban studies, had been actively participating in public discussions about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which led her to vocalize her support for Palestinians. Her detention highlights concerns that U.S. authorities are targeting individuals based on their political views, particularly those who express opposition to Israel.
On March 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper temporarily blocked Ozturk’s deportation, ruling that she could not be removed from the country while the court determines whether it has jurisdiction over the case. Judge Casper’s decision followed the filing of an amended petition and complaint by Ozturk’s legal team, giving the Trump administration until April 1 to respond. The ruling prevents her deportation until further legal proceedings can take place.
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