A Tufts University student from Turkey returned to Boston on Saturday after being released from a Louisiana immigration detention center where she was held for over six weeks. Rumeysa Ozturk expressed her excitement at resuming her studies, describing the past period as very challenging. She mentioned losing both her freedom and educational progress during a crucial time for her doctoral studies but expressed gratitude for the support she received.
Ozturk’s release was ordered by a federal judge pending a final decision on her claim of unlawful detention, which she attributed to an op-ed she co-wrote criticizing her university’s response to Israel and the Gaza war. She affirmed her trust in the American justice system and vowed to continue her case in court.
Upon her return to Boston, Ozturk was welcomed by her lawyers, along with Massachusetts Democratic officials Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who praised her resilience. She detailed her experience during a bail hearing where she was granted release without restrictions by U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Vermont.
Ozturk was part of a group of students who wrote an opinion piece in The Tufts Daily last year, criticizing the university’s handling of student demands related to Palestine and Israel. Her detention followed the revocation of her student visa, although she was not informed of this development beforehand.
Allegations of supporting a designated terrorist organization were made against Ozturk without concrete evidence, leading to her detention and subsequent legal proceedings. The case drew attention to concerns over freedom of expression and due process.
As Ozturk prepares to resume her studies and pursue justice for her ordeal, she remains optimistic and appreciative of the support she has received in her challenging circumstances.
Ozturk will return to New England for hearings to assess if her constitutional rights, such as free speech and due process, were infringed, as claimed by her legal team. Immigration proceedings for Ozturk, which began in Louisiana, are being held independently in that state, with Ozturk able to participate remotely, as stated by the court. Reporting by Rush in Portland, Oregon was supplemented by contributions from Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack and Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Michael Casey in Boston.
