Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Öztürk, who is from Turkey, was detained by immigration authorities on March 25 in a Boston suburb. The Trump administration revoked her student visa based on concerns about her associations potentially affecting U.S. foreign policy. This decision was made after she co-authored an op-ed critical of Tufts’ response to the war in Gaza.
During a recent hearing at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City, the issue of whether Öztürk’s free speech rights are protected was raised. The government lawyer was unable to provide a clear answer, stating that they had not taken a position on the matter. Öztürk’s detention has sparked controversy, with her lawyers arguing for her transfer to Vermont due to her last known location before being taken to Louisiana.
Meanwhile, the court also considered the case of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, detained by DHS agents during a naturalization interview in Vermont. He was released on bail, with the government arguing against his release due to potential challenges in carrying out his removal. Mahdawi’s attorney emphasized the importance of protecting his free speech rights in this legal battle.
“Liberty is the norm, and the government seeks to disrupt that liberty,” stated Ahmad. Mahdawi played a significant role in organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last year, which sparked similar protests at universities across the country, drawing criticism from Republicans in Congress. The Trump administration defended Mahdawi’s detention by stating that his presence and activities in the U.S. could have negative foreign policy implications and undermine a crucial U.S. foreign policy interest, according to the DHS notification for his appearance. Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, from Vermont, recently ordered Mahdawi’s release on bail, likening the current political climate to the Second Red Scare of the 1950s. Crawford remarked, “This is not the first time the government has taken severe measures to stifle debate.” Following his release, Mahdawi spoke to the media outside the courthouse, expressing defiance towards President Trump and his administration, saying, “I want to make it clear to President Trump and his Cabinet: I am not intimidated by you.”
