Federal Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE Detention
A federal judge ruling on Friday has mandated the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey, who has been held for over six weeks in an immigration detention facility. Öztürk’s detention stemmed from her participation in writing an opinion piece criticizing her university’s response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, leading to the revocation of her student visa by the Trump administration.
U.S. District Judge William Sessions, during a hearing in Burlington, Vermont, granted bail to Öztürk amidst growing concerns regarding constitutional rights and freedom of speech. Her case has gained significant attention as part of the Trump administration’s controversial campaign targeting pro-Palestinian activists on American campuses.
Öztürk was arrested in Somerville, Massachusetts, by plainclothes officers on March 25 and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana, despite a Massachusetts judge’s order barring her relocation. The ACLU argued that her detention was retaliatory and intended to suppress her First Amendment rights.
During the hearing, Öztürk testified about severe asthma attacks while in custody, highlighting inadequate medical care and overcrowded living conditions. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, expressed relief at the court’s decision but noted the hours of unjust imprisonment stemming from her advocacy for human rights.
Prominent lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, celebrated the ruling, framing it as a win for democracy and civil rights. Markey described Öztürk’s prolonged detention for her speech as “deeply disturbing,” while Öztürk’s lawyer emphasized the importance of continued advocacy for free expression.
Öztürk will now return to her community at Tufts and focus on her studies, marking a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue about the intersection of immigration policy and free speech in the U.S.
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