Dramatic Street Arrest Ignites National Backlash (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Somerville, Massachusetts – An immigration judge terminated removal proceedings against a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University, determining that federal authorities failed to prove grounds for her deportation despite her public criticism of Israel.[1][2]
Dramatic Street Arrest Ignites National Backlash
Federal immigration agents detained Rümeysa Öztürk on March 25, 2025, outside her home in Somerville. Video footage captured masked officers surrounding the graduate student as she cried out in fear, drawing widespread condemnation.[2]
Authorities transferred her through multiple facilities, including one in Louisiana, where she endured over 45 days in detention. Öztürk suffered asthma attacks without proper medical attention during this period, according to her legal team.[1]
A federal judge ordered her release in May 2025, citing concerns that prolonged detention chilled free speech among noncitizens. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III emphasized the broader risks to expression in his ruling.[2]
Court Finds Government Case Lacking Evidence
On January 29, 2026, Immigration Judge Roopal Patel ended the deportation effort. The ruling came after the Department of Homeland Security could not meet its burden to demonstrate Öztürk’s removability.[3][1]
The Trump administration had invoked a rarely used provision of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. This allowed visa revocation if a noncitizen’s presence posed serious adverse foreign policy consequences.[1]
DHS officials accused Öztürk of supporting Hamas, but unsealed documents revealed no evidence of terrorist activity. A spokesperson dismissed the judge’s decision as judicial activism and labeled her a terrorist sympathizer.[2]
Campus Advocacy at Heart of Controversy
Öztürk, who studies children’s interactions with social media, co-authored an opinion piece in the Tufts student newspaper the previous year. The article criticized the university’s handling of student calls related to Israel’s war in Gaza.[1]
It urged acknowledgment of Palestinian suffering and divestment from companies linked to Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited such activism in announcing visa revocations for perceived Hamas supporters.[2]
Her attorneys, including those from the ACLU of Massachusetts, argued the actions violated constitutional protections. They highlighted risks of using immigration law to punish speech.[1]
- March 2024: Öztürk publishes campus op-ed.
- March 2025: Arrest and visa revocation.
- May 2025: Federal release order.
- December 2025: Permission to resume studies.
- January 2026: Immigration proceedings terminated.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Broader Ramifications
A federal appeals court filing disclosed the immigration ruling this week. Öztürk’s habeas corpus challenge to her arrest continues unaffected.[1]
In December 2025, another judge allowed her to return to research and teaching. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, called the decision a powerful affirmation of fairness.[2]
Öztürk expressed relief in a statement: “Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system’s flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the U.S. government.”[1]
The case underscores tensions between immigration enforcement and campus activism. It arrives amid efforts targeting other international students for similar views.[3]
Key Takeaways
- The judge ruled visa revocation alone does not mandate deportation for students with independent legal status.
- No criminal charges or terror links were substantiated against Öztürk.
- Prior federal rulings protected her speech and studies during the ordeal.
This victory reinforces due process in politically charged cases. What do you think of the court’s stance on activism and immigration? Tell us in the comments.
