Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk denied bail after ICE arrest

Rümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old doctoral student from Turkey, was detained on March 25 in Somerville, Massachusetts, while heading to break her Ramadan fast with friends.

Plainclothes ICE agents apprehended her on the street and transferred her to a detention facility in Louisiana. The arrest, captured on video, sparked criticism and raised concerns about academic freedom and freedom of speech.

Öztürk’s legal team filed an emergency motion for her release, stating her student visa was revoked in retaliation for a 2024 opinion piece she co-wrote in the student newspaper criticizing Tufts University’s stance on the Gaza war.

"Ms. Öztürk has committed no crime and DHS has provided zero evidence in their case against her," said her attorney Mahsa Khanbabai.

DHS officials cited only a brief State Department memo linking her to rhetoric aligned with a group that was temporarily banned from campus.

Lawyers say it’s a free speech issue

Her lawyers argue that the case is a political act against free expression.

"The court yesterday relied on a previously submitted State Department memo that points to nothing that Ms. Öztürk said or did — other than her 2024 school newspaper op-ed — to falsely claim she is a danger to her community," Khanbabai stated. "This attack on free speech is despicable, but we won’t be deterred."

A DHS spokesperson alleged that Öztürk supported Hamas and glorified terrorism, which they say justified the visa revocation.

Meanwhile, the Turkish embassy said it is closely following the case and expects her prompt release and reinstatement.

A public call for her immediate release has also been issued by Tufts University. Legal disputes continue over whether her case should be handled in Vermont — where the petition was filed — or Louisiana, where she is now detained.

Öztürk’s future remains uncertain as legal and political pressure around her detention continues to grow.