Detention of Tufts University Student by US Immigration Authorities Raises Concerns

Last Updated: Apr 18, 2025

Detention of Tufts University Student by US Immigration Authorities Raises Concerns image

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University with a valid visa, was detained by DHS agents outside her Massachusetts home in March 2025. The video showed masked individuals in unmarked cars apprehending her. Despite a federal judge's order not to move her without notice, she was quickly transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. 

DHS later stated her visa was terminated due to an investigation finding she "engaged in activities in support of Hamas," but provided no evidence. Tufts University had no prior knowledge. The detention sparked condemnation from Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Mass. AG Andrea Joy Campbell, raising concerns about due process, free speech rights, and potential political targeting. 

Source: AP News

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