BOSTON, Massachusetts — A federal judge in Massachusetts on Friday issued a temporary order preventing the deportation of a Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University, detained earlier this week by U.S. immigration officials. Rumeysa Ozturk, who recently expressed support for Palestinians amid conflict in Gaza, was apprehended near her home in Massachusetts by authorities who subsequently revoked her visa.
Ozturk, 30, found herself at the center of controversy following her arrest, captured on video by masked agents. The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Ozturk was involved in activities that supported Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization. However, no concrete evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
The legal entanglement intensified after Ozturk’s arrest, which came on the heels of an opinion piece she co-authored last year in a Tufts University student newspaper. The article criticized the university’s stance on divestment from companies linked to Israel and called for recognition of what she termed as the “Palestinian genocide.”
Responding swiftly, her legal team, bolstered by representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, filed an updated lawsuit. They argued that her detention infringes upon her constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Despite a directive that she should not be moved from Massachusetts without two days’ notice, Ozturk was transferred to Louisiana.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper of Boston indicated that the temporary halt on Ozturk’s deportation was to allow time to determine if her court has jurisdiction over the case. Casper has ordered representatives from the Trump administration to address the complaint by the following Tuesday.
The backlash against Ozturk is not isolated but part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration, which has taken a hardline stance against foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian protests. President Donald Trump has accused such protesters of supporting Hamas and anti-Semitism, further complicating the U.S.’s foreign policy landscape.
Critics, including various Jewish organizations, argue that the administration is conflating legitimate criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza with anti-Semitism and explicit support for Hamas. In line with this tougher stance, it is estimated that over 300 visas have been revoked by the administration.
Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, described the judge’s recent decision as an initial victory toward securing her client’s release so that she may return to Boston and continue her academic pursuits.
At the time of reporting, the Department of Homeland Security had yet to comment on the case.
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