A federal judge in Vermont has ordered immigration authorities to transfer Turkish doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk from a Louisiana detention facility to Vermont by May 1. The judge, William Sessions, also ordered a bail hearing for Öztürk on May 9. The decision comes after Öztürk was arrested by plainclothes officers in March in retaliation for writing an op-ed critical of her school’s response to the war in Gaza.
Sessions cited significant constitutional concerns with Öztürk’s arrest and detention, stating that they merit full and fair consideration in court. The judge rejected the government’s assertions that his court lacks jurisdiction over the case. This ruling follows a Louisiana immigration judge’s denial of Öztürk’s release on bond, citing her as a flight risk and a danger to the public.
Öztürk’s attorneys argued that the evidence against her was based on a memo from the State Department suggesting her activities could undermine U.S. foreign policy. The ACLU of Vermont, representing Öztürk, praised the ruling, stating that the government cannot manipulate the justice system by imprisoning someone far from home to impact the case’s jurisdiction.
While Öztürk’s attorneys requested immediate release, Sessions stated he needed more information before making that decision. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not commented on the ruling. The State Department has also not responded to inquiries.
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