Officers restrained Fulbright scholarship without initially identifying
themselves, confiscated her phone, and put her into an unmarked vehicle
Boston, MA — Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkey doctoral student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Tuesday evening in a highly controversial operation that has drawn widespread criticism and protests.
Surveillance footage shows six plainclothes officers surrounding Ozturk near her residence in Somerville as she walked alone to join friends for an Iftar dinner during Ramadan. The footage depicts officers restraining her without initially identifying themselves, confiscating her phone, and escorting her into an unmarked vehicle.
Ozturk is currently being held at an ICE facility in Louisiana after her visa was revoked by federal authorities.
No formal charges have been filed against her, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused her of participating in activities supporting Hamas—a claim her legal team vehemently denies. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, described the detention as “shocking, cruel, and unconstitutional,” asserting that Ozturk’s arrest appears politically motivated due to her activism on Palestinian issues.
The incident has sparked protests near Tufts University and condemnation from lawmakers and advocacy groups.
Hundreds gathered at a park adjacent to the campus to demand her release and denounce what they perceive as an infringement on free speech and academic freedom. “The fact that someone can just vanish into the void for expressing an idea is absolutely horrifying,” remarked protester Sam Wachman.
Ozturk’s family believes she was targeted for her views on Palestine rather than any unlawful actions.
Her brother stated that she had expressed opinions within the bounds of free speech without engaging in provocative or aggressive behavior. This aligns with broader concerns that ICE’s actions under the Trump administration disproportionately target individuals advocating for Palestinian rights.
Tufts University officials were reportedly unaware of the arrest beforehand. President Sunil Kumar expressed solidarity with Ozturk and acknowledged the fear it has caused among international students and faculty members who may feel vulnerable under current immigration policies.
The Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts have drawn scrutiny for their impact on academic institutions and civil liberties.
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly vowed to expel foreign pro-Palestinian demonstrators, claiming their actions support Hamas militants and contribute to anti-Semitism—a stance critics argue conflates legitimate activism with terrorism.
Ozturk’s case is not isolated; similar detentions have occurred across the U.S., including those of other international students involved in activism. Legal experts note that these actions raise questions about the balance between national security concerns and constitutional protections for free speech.
Late Friday, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued a ruling preventing Ozturk’s deportation until further legal proceedings determine whether the Boston court has jurisdiction over her detention’s legality. However, Ozturk had already been relocated to Louisiana by the time federal officials received the court order—a move her attorney criticized as undermining judicial authority.
The Turkish government is closely monitoring Ozturk’s situation and providing consular support to her family while engaging with U.S. officials regarding her case. Advocacy groups like the Muslim Justice League have also rallied behind Ozturk, releasing footage of her arrest to highlight what they describe as “kidnapping-like tactics” employed by ICE agents.
This incident underscores broader concerns about civil liberties under Trump-era policies that critics say disproportionately target immigrants and activists. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have condemned Ozturk’s detention as part of a disturbing trend aimed at suppressing dissent.
As legal battles unfold, Ozturk’s supporters hope for her release so she can resume her doctoral studies in child study and human development at Tufts—a program she pursued after earning a Fulbright scholarship and completing a master’s degree at Columbia University.
The case continues to ignite debates over immigration enforcement practices and their implications for free speech in academic settings – with many calling for greater transparency and accountability from federal authorities regarding such detentions.
Federal Agents Arrest Turkish Ph.D. Student in Broad Daylight (March 30, 2025)
#RumeysaOzturk #ICEArrest #FreeSpeech #TuftsUniversity #ImmigrationPolicy #TrumpAdministration #CivilRights #ProPalestinianActivism #AcademicFreedom
Tags: Rumeysa Ozturk, Tufts University, Trump administration,
ICE detention, civil liberties, immigration policy, free speech,
pro-Palestinian activism, federal judge ruling
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