Turkish student detained in apparent retaliation for op-ed piece
- Rumeysa Ozturk was detained in March 2025 during a walk in Somerville, Massachusetts, leading to her transfer to a Louisiana detention center.
- Her lawyers claim that her detention is a form of retaliation for an op-ed criticizing Tufts University's stance on Palestinian issues.
- The situation raises serious concerns regarding the impact on free speech and academic freedom within the U.S. immigration system.
In March 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student from Tufts University, was detained by U.S. immigration authorities. Ozturk was taken into custody as she walked in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 25, and subsequently transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. Ozturk's lawyers assert that her detention results from retaliation linked to an op-ed she co-wrote criticizing her university's handling of student activism regarding Palestinian issues. Following her detention, she was not allowed to speak to her legal counsel for over 24 hours, raising concerns about her right to due process. A Louisiana judge denied her bond request, which her legal team intends to appeal. Furthermore, authorities have indicated that Ozturk's immigration status may be tied to allegations of her supporting Hamas, a claim she vehemently denies. Ozturk’s case is part of a larger pattern involving students connected to U.S. universities who have faced immigration challenges, particularly those expressing pro-Palestinian views. Such actions have raised significant alarm about the implications for academic freedom and free speech in the United States.