A federal judge has ordered that Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, detained by immigration authorities in Louisiana, be brought to Vermont for a hearing by May 1. Ozturk’s lawyers claim her detention was in retaliation for an op-ed criticizing the university’s response to student activists demanding acknowledgment of the Palestinian genocide. She was taken into custody in Massachusetts and moved to Louisiana after an immigration judge denied her bond request. Ozturk’s lawyers argue that her detention violates constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. The Department of Homeland Security claims she engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, but has provided no evidence. Several individuals tied to American universities have faced similar issues with their visas revoked for supporting Palestinians or attending demonstrations. Ozturk’s lawyers are challenging ICE’s detention authority and have requested her immediate release or return to Vermont while her case continues. The Justice Department argues the immigration court has jurisdiction and seeks to dismiss her case. Ozturk’s legal team initially filed a petition in Massachusetts and had difficulty locating her, with Ozturk unable to speak to a lawyer for over 24 hours after her detention. She is set to appear in Vermont for a hearing on her release request.
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