A Tufts University international graduate student, Rumeysa Ozturk, is currently in federal custody following her detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Ozturk, a Turkish national and PhD student within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, was apprehended outside her off-campus apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts.
According to her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, Rumeysa was on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast on the evening of March 25th when she was suddenly detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of— We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately,” Khanbabai stated.
Khanbabai emphasized that Ozturk held a valid F-1 visa status as a PhD student, which permits her to reside in the U.S. for her studies. To facilitate Ozturk's release from detention, her attorney has filed a habeas petition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Federal Judge Indira Talwani issued a three-page order to ICE, instructing them that “unless otherwise ordered by the Court, petitioner shall not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice of the intended move.”
Talwani noted that while the judiciary typically does not have jurisdiction over deportations, it does possess the authority to “preserve the status quo.” The judge also mandated that ICE respond to the petition by Friday and provide a written explanation if Ozturk were to be relocated, ensuring that the court is notified 48 hours prior to any potential transfer.
This ruling raises concerns, particularly in light of recent mass transfers of detainees from Plymouth’s ICE detention center to New Mexico. These transfers complicate detainees' access to legal representation as they are moved farther from their families and attorneys. A video shared with GBH News captures the moment of Ozturk's detention, showing her being approached by men in plain clothes who identified themselves as law enforcement.
In an email shared with GBH News, Tufts President Sunil Kumar expressed that the university was informed of Ozturk’s visa status being terminated and is currently seeking confirmation of this information. “The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident,” Kumar wrote, affirming that they did not share any information with federal authorities before the event. Tufts University is committed to assisting Ozturk by connecting her with external legal resources as needed.
Kumar acknowledged that the news of Ozturk's detention would be distressing for many community members, especially those within the international community. He reminded students of the university’s protocol for responding to federal agents making “unannounced visits” on or off campus.
Witnesses in the neighborhood alerted a hotline operated by groups advocating for immigrant rights, including the Muslim Justice League. Residents had observed vehicles with tinted windows surveilling the area for two days before Ozturk's detention. Fatema Ahmad, the executive director of the Muslim Justice League, highlighted concerns over the current administration's crackdown on student free speech, particularly regarding international students. “We’re extremely concerned about what this means,” Ahmad remarked, noting that many international students at Tufts and nearby universities are anxious following this incident.
Ahmad also mentioned that Ozturk's personal information had recently been disseminated by Canary Mission, an organization that profiles activists and students advocating for Palestinian rights. “They seem to be trying to get people blacklisted from jobs by putting up these smears about them,” Ahmad explained, indicating that this could have attracted unwanted attention to Ozturk.
The arrest of Ozturk comes on the heels of statements made by former President Donald Trump, warning that the detainment of lawful residents, such as Mahmoud Khalil, would be the first of many as his administration tightened its stance on campus demonstrations against Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Ozturk, who is enrolled in Tufts’ doctoral program for child study and human development, has previously expressed critical views regarding the university’s responses to pro-Palestinian protests. In March of the previous year, she co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts Daily urging the university to “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide” and to reconsider its investments linked to Israel.
As this situation unfolds, GBH News has reached out to ICE for further comments regarding Ozturk’s detention, highlighting the increasing concerns surrounding the treatment of international students and the implications for academic freedom in the current political climate.
