A Tufts University student from Turkey, Rümeysa Öztürk, has made her way back to Boston just one day after being released from a Louisiana immigration detention center. Öztürk spent over six weeks in detention following her arrest, which stemmed from her political speech. Upon her arrival at Logan Airport on Saturday, she expressed her excitement to return to her studies after enduring a “very difficult” period.
Reflecting on her experience, Öztürk stated, “In the last 45 days, I lost both my freedom and also my education during a crucial time for my doctoral studies.” She emphasized her gratitude for the outpouring of support, kindness, and care she received during her ordeal. The federal judge ordered her release on Friday, pending a final ruling on her claim that her detention was illegal. This followed an op-ed she co-wrote last year that criticized Tufts University's response to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Öztürk has initiated a lawsuit challenging her detention, which is now assigned to US District Judge William Sessions in Burlington, Vermont. Judge Sessions granted her bail after determining that she had raised significant claims regarding the violation of her rights. Öztürk affirmed her commitment to continue her legal battle, stating, “I have faith in the American system of justice.”
Upon Öztürk's return, Ed Markey, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, welcomed her back, saying, “Today is a tremendous day as we welcome you back, Rumeysa. You have made millions and millions of people across our country so proud of the way you have fought.” During her bail hearing, conducted via video, Öztürk described the worsening of her asthma attacks while in detention and reiterated her desire to complete her doctorate, which focuses on children and social media.
Judge Sessions ruled that Öztürk would be released on her own recognizance, imposing no travel restrictions. He noted that she posed no danger to the community nor was she considered a flight risk. However, he mentioned that he might revise the release order to accommodate any conditions set by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in consultation with her legal team. Sessions pointed out that the government provided no substantial evidence for Öztürk's arrest, aside from the op-ed she authored.
Öztürk was part of a group of four students who penned the opinion piece in the campus newspaper The Tufts Daily, which criticized the university’s handling of student activists. The activists were demanding that Tufts acknowledge what they termed the “Palestinian genocide” and divest from companies with connections to Israel. On March 25, immigration officials apprehended Öztürk in Massachusetts and subsequently transported her to a detention facility in Basile, Louisiana, after her student visa had been revoked without prior notification.
As Rümeysa Öztürk resumes her academic journey, her case continues to highlight critical issues surrounding immigration, freedom of speech, and the rights of international students in the United States.
