Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk detained by federal agents amid controversy

In Massachusetts, on March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University, was apprehended by federal authorities while en route to break her Ramadan fast with friends. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, reported that Ozturk was taken by Department of Homeland Security agents near her home in Somerville, and they have been unable to contact her. Reports indicate that Ozturk's visa status has now been terminated, and no charges have been filed against her at this time. The incident raises concerns about the treatment of international students in the U.S., particularly in light of the student’s previous activism. Ozturk, a valid F-1 visa holder, co-authored an op-ed criticizing Tufts University’s responses to calls for acknowledgment of Palestinian humanitarian concerns, which may have contributed to her detention amidst a wider crackdown by federal immigration authorities under the Trump administration. Despite Tufts University's established protocols for responding to government actions, they claimed to have had no prior knowledge of Ozturk's detention. The university is working to ascertain further information regarding the situation and confirming the status of her visa. An order from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has prevented the federal government from moving Ozturk out of Massachusetts without prior notification, emphasizing the legal complexities surrounding her case. This event unfolds against a backdrop of increased surveillance and aggressive immigration enforcement across university campuses. Ozturk’s situation continues to draw attention not only due to her academic status but also due to the potential implications for other international students and the environment for free speech on college campuses.