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Detention of Rümeysa Öztürk
2025 arrest in Massachusetts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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On March 25, 2025, 30-year-old Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish national on an F-1 student visa, was arrested by six masked plainclothes agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the revocation of her visa near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, before eventually being held in South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. The revocation of her visa and her arrest is believed to be the result of an opinion piece she had co-authored that criticised the university's response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
 | This article contains close paraphrasing of copyrighted sources. (July 2025) |
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Öztürk's arrest sparked widespread condemnation from elected officials and others. Some accused the Trump administration of targeting students for their political views without due process, while others called it a violation of civil liberties. The incident also provoked protests at Tufts University and across Massachusetts.
On May 9, Öztürk was released, pending final decision on her legal case over her detention.
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Rümeysa Öztürk
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Öztürk is a 30-year-old Turkish national, studying as a PhD student in the Child Study and Human Development program at Tufts University on an F-1 student visa.[1][2] Her LinkedIn profile, which has since been deleted, included a master's degree in teaching from Columbia University and well as her experience as a Fulbright Scholar[3] and working at Boston University as a research assistant.[1]
In March 2024, Öztürk co-wrote an article along with three others that was published in the university's newspaper The Tufts Daily, entitled "Try again, President Kumar: Renewing calls for Tufts to adopt March 4 TCU Senate resolutions".[4] The article called for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel and acknowledge ""Palestinian genocide"; alongside the authors the article was endorsed by 32 others.[5][6][7] Following publication her personal information was made public by Canary Mission, a group that documents those who "promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses."[5]
The group StopAntisemitism claimed that Öztürk had "led pro-Hamas, violent antisemitic and anti-American events" while at Tufts.[8] On social media her brother denied this narrative, suggesting the targeting of her was a "witch hunt", while friends had said the only pro-Palestinian activity she had engaged in was the op-ed.[5] Multiple associates of hers from Tufts paid tribute to her character after her detention, while her department at the university praised her saying that her "genuineness and care for others have been felt deeply here at Tufts".[9]
The Washington Post reported that Öztürk's visa was revoked without her awareness at the discretion of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the weeks prior to her arrest. They also reported that while initially it had been suggested to do so under grounds of antisemitism or expressing support for a terror organisation (namely Hamas), no evidence was provided to substantiate the allegations.[10]
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Arrest and detention
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On March 25, Öztürk was arrested by six plainclothes officers as she left her home to meet friends to break their Ramadan fast. The officers, mostly masked, quickly moved up to her, whereupon they identified themselves as police and took away her phone and backpack. A bystander initially believed the incident to be a kidnapping.[11][12][13] In a later sworn statement, Öztürk described how initially she believed she had been abducted by associates of the Canary Mission, and that when made clear that she had been arrested by law enforcement they refused to inform her as to the reasons why. During this time she was shackled and denied access to a lawyer. She was later informed by one of the officers that she would be transported a detention center in Vermont, as there were none in Massachusetts for women.[14][15]
Öztürk was subsequently moved several times including to Vermont before eventually arriving at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, during which she claims to have been questioned while sleep-deprived, mistreated after suffering asthma attacks, and kept in an overcrowded cell in unsanitary conditions.[16][17][18] She also said that she was kept entirely indoors for the first week of her detention and that she had limited food and water for two weeks.[19][20]
While in detention Öztürk was visited by representatives of the Turkish government, who were providing consular support and attempting to secure her release.[21] In April a Congressional delegation visited Öztürk as well as Mahmoud Khalil, another pro-Palestinian protestor who had been detained. The delegation, led by Louisiana Representative Troy Carter, reported on the conditions the two were kept in, noting both complained of low temperatures as well a lack of medical care, food and religious accommodations. The pair were also described as "political prisoners".[22] ICE officials would later describe these claims as "unequivocally false".[23]
In the initial 24 hours following her arrest Öztürk's location was unknown to anyone but the authorities, including her lawyer. Her movement out of Massachusetts also appeared to be at odds with a legal order issued by a US District judge not to be removed within the first 48 hours of her arrest.[24] In legal documents the US government claimed that ICE had already planned to move Öztürk to Louisiana prior to her arrest due to a lack of beds, and that the District court had no jurisdiction over federal immigration actions.[25] Legal representatives for both sides disputed where Öztürk's petition to be released should be held, with District Judge Denise J. Casper eventually ruling that it would be heard in Vermont, and that an earlier ruling barring her deportation would remain in effect.[26]
Öztürk was released on bail in May after US District Judge, William K Sessions, ordered her immediate release without restrictions. During the hearing Sessions highlighted that no evidence had been presented to support her detention, and that continued detention was likely to be detrimental to her health.[27]
Following her release from detention, Öztürk thanked her supporters. Jessie Rossman of the ACLU, who had supported her legal fight, also spoke of their "relief and gratitude".[28] At a press conference at Logan Airport in Boston, Öztürk stated her intention to her legal battle against her initial detention and that she was looking forward to returning to her studies.[29]
Legal proceedings are still ongoing in both Vermont and Louisiana, regarding claims of illegal detention and immigration hearings respectively.[30][31]
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Tufts University
In the days following the arrest, the university would confirm that it had no prior knowledge that the arrest would take place, and were only informed after the fact a student whose visa had been "terminated" had been arrested. The university also stated that they were disturbed by the footage of the arrest, and that they were supporting both Muslim students and the wider community.[32] Tufts would later make a submission in support of her release, stating that her arrest had "paralyzed" the university's international community.[33]
Following her release in May, a university spokesperson gave a statement supporting the outcome and that the university was looking forward to welcoming her back. The statement also re-affirmed that the initial op-ed Öztürk co-wrote didn't violate university policies.[34]
Civil society
Öztürk's arrest and detention led to a number of protests calling for her release. This included protests at Tufts and Harvard,[35][36] a banner being held up during a Major League Soccer game,[37] and outside the Vermont courthouse where her case was being decided.[38] One protest in downtown Boston involved more than 200, including Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and the president of her Service Employees International Union branch David Foley.[39]
A group of 27 Jewish organizations and synagogues across the US condemned Öztürk's arrest, stating it violated her constitutional rights. They also accused the government of "exploiting" concerns around antisemitism in the process.[40]
Politicians
Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib condemned her detention, and accused the Trump administration of attacking freedoms and increasing government repression.[41] Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, issued a joint statement demanding that she be provided appropriate medical care, and that the government either provide evidence to justify her detention or release her.[42] Several Turkish policitians would also condemn her detention including the Turkish minister of justice Yılmaz Tunç,[43] as well as the leaders of the Republican People's Party and the Democracy and Progress Party, Özgür Özel and Ali Babacan respectively.[44][45]
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References
External links
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