Federal Judges Order Transfer of Tufts Student Detained by ICE Amid Controversy
A federal appeals court has ruled that Turkish national Rumeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, should be swiftly transferred to Vermont from Louisiana, where she is currently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This decision comes in response to claims by her attorney, Esha Bhandari, that Öztürk’s detention is unlawful and retaliatory, tied to her co-authorship of a pro-Palestine op-ed in the university’s newspaper.
Öztürk was apprehended on March 26 in Somerville, Massachusetts, after her visa was revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Her attorney emphasized that the focus of their arguments is not on potential deportation, but on her right to free speech under the First Amendment. Bhandari noted that Öztürk’s health has deteriorated during her six-week custody.
The court’s decision counters an attempt by the Trump administration to transfer Öztürk to Louisiana, an action labeled "forum shopping" by her legal team, who argued that the courts in that jurisdiction might be less favorable to her case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office cited limited space in Massachusetts as the reason for the transfer.
DHS officials are maintaining that Öztürk’s detention is justified, claiming she supported Hamas through her writings. This assertion comes amidst a broader context of heightened scrutiny of student visas, following an executive order by President Trump targeting supporters of Hamas in response to rising anti-Semitism on campuses.
Despite the ruling, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continue detention and removal of individuals deemed ineligible to remain in the U.S. The White House and ICE have not yet commented on the latest developments.
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