Judge Halts Deportation of Turkish Tufts PhD Student/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University accused of supporting Hamas. Ozturk’s supporters argue her detention violates free speech rights, as her arrest followed public criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Deportation of Turkish Student Halted Quick Looks
- Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts, detained by ICE
- U.S. alleges she supported Hamas, but no evidence presented publicly
- Federal judge in Boston pauses deportation proceedings
- ACLU joins legal team, citing First Amendment rights
- Ozturk co-authored pro-Palestinian opinion piece in student newspaper
- Arrest follows Trump pledge to deport pro-Palestinian foreign students
- Turkish officials providing legal and consular support
- Ozturk relocated to Louisiana despite court order
- DHS ordered to respond by Tuesday in federal court
- Supporters say criticism of Israel is being conflated with terrorism
Judge Halts Deportation of Turkish Tufts PhD Student
Deep Look
U.S. Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Turkish Student at Tufts University
BOSTON — A federal judge on Friday temporarily halted the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, after her arrest by federal immigration authorities triggered national debate over academic freedom and free speech.
Ozturk, 30, was taken into custody Tuesday near her Massachusetts home by masked U.S. immigration officers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked her visa, accusing her—without publicly providing evidence—of “engaging in activities in support of Hamas,” a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Her arrest came one year after she co-authored an opinion piece in the Tufts student newspaper that criticized the university’s response to student-led demands for divestment from companies tied to Israel and called on the school to acknowledge what she and others referred to as the “Palestinian genocide.”
The arrest and deportation attempt quickly became a flashpoint in the broader political battle over pro-Palestinian speech on U.S. campuses, especially as President Donald Trump has vowed to deport foreign students and protestors who express support for Palestine or criticize Israeli policies.
Judge Issues Temporary Relief
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued a temporary order halting Ozturk’s deportation, allowing time to determine whether her court has jurisdiction in the case. The ruling came after her attorneys, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed an updated legal complaint arguing her detention violated her First Amendment and due process rights.
Judge Casper’s order came despite the fact that Ozturk had already been transferred to a detention center in Louisiana — in apparent conflict with an earlier court directive requiring a 48-hour notice before removing her from Massachusetts.
The judge has now directed the Trump administration to respond to Ozturk’s complaint by Tuesday.
“This is a first step in getting Rumeysa released and back home to Boston so she can continue her studies,” said Mahsa Khanbabai, one of Ozturk’s attorneys.
Turkey Weighs In
The Turkish government is actively supporting Ozturk, with consular officials visiting her in Louisiana on Thursday. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it is providing both legal counsel and diplomatic support to ensure Ozturk’s rights are protected.
“Our Houston Consul General visited our citizen in the center where she is being held,” said ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli. “Her requests and concerns have been communicated to the local authorities and her lawyer.”
A Broader Crackdown
Ozturk’s arrest aligns with a broader immigration enforcement campaign by the Trump administration aimed at pro-Palestinian voices. President Trump has repeatedly pledged to deport foreign nationals who support Palestinian causes, arguing that many are sympathizers of Hamas or antisemitic — claims that critics say dangerously conflate political advocacy with extremism.
According to federal officials, more than 300 visas may have already been revoked from students and demonstrators linked to pro-Palestinian activism, though exact numbers have not been confirmed.
Civil liberties advocates warn that the administration’s actions are blurring the line between national security and constitutionally protected speech.
“Criticizing Israel’s actions or expressing solidarity with Palestinians is not equivalent to supporting terrorism,” said one ACLU spokesperson. “This case is about preserving the fundamental right to dissent in a democracy.”
Campus and Community Reaction
Ozturk’s detention sparked campus rallies and public protests, including a demonstration led by Somerville for Palestine near Tufts University. Speakers at the rally denounced what they see as a crackdown on dissent and an abuse of immigration powers to silence critics of U.S. foreign policy.
Sara Halawa, one of the organizers, told supporters: “Rumeysa is being targeted for speaking truth to power. This is not just about one student — it’s about all of us.”
Tufts University has not issued a public statement regarding the case.
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