Judge Orders Release of Tufts PhD Student Detained by ICE
BURLINGTON, VT – In a pivotal ruling, District of Vermont Judge William Sessions ordered the immediate release of Tufts University PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk, citing significant constitutional violations in her ongoing detention. Öztürk, originally from Turkey, had been held for 45 days by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being arrested in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Sessions stated that Öztürk had raised substantial claims regarding violations of her free speech and due process rights. “Her continued detention cannot stand,” he affirmed, expressing that he does not view her as a flight risk. Öztürk’s plight drew widespread attention, particularly after claims were made that she engaged in activities supporting Hamas—a designation later contradicted by an internal Department of State investigation.
During the hearing, concerns were raised about Öztürk’s deteriorating health, including escalating asthma attacks exacerbated by her detention conditions. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, emphasized the distressing irony of being imprisoned for advocating human rights for Palestinians in an op-ed she co-authored.
Judge Sessions granted Öztürk’s release with conditions, allowing her to return to Massachusetts with community supervision provided by the Burlington Community Justice Center. Sessions ordered regular contact with Justice Center staff to support her reintegration into the community after her traumatic experience.
As her immigration case proceeds, Öztürk’s legal team expressed relief over her release, reiterating their commitment to fighting for her rights. This ruling follows a recent circuit court decision directing her physical transfer to Vermont for her district court case. The broader implications of this case touch upon critical issues of free speech and the treatment of immigrants in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security, while initially alleging Öztürk’s extremist connections, has not yet offered further comment following the ruling.
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