Judge May Hear Turkish Student Detention Case in Vermont

Judge May Hear Turkish Student Detention Case in Vermont \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A federal judge in Vermont is weighing whether to hold a hearing for Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University detained by ICE in Louisiana. Ozturk was apprehended in Massachusetts and quickly transferred, prompting legal challenges over her detention. Her lawyers argue her arrest stems from protected free speech after she co-authored a pro-Palestinian op-ed.

Quick Looks

• Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, detained by ICE on March 25 in Somerville, Massachusetts.
• She was transferred from New Hampshire to Vermont, then flown to Louisiana.
• Ozturk is a Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University.
• A Vermont federal judge is considering jurisdiction in her habeas petition.
• Ozturk’s lawyers demand immediate release or a return to Vermont for proceedings.
• DHS claims she supported Hamas; her lawyers say detention violates free speech rights.
• A federal memo allegedly revoking her visa cites “hostile campus environment” claims.
• Another internal memo reportedly found no evidence of antisemitism or terror support.
• Judge suggested a potential May hearing while removal proceedings continue.
• Ozturk co-authored a Tufts op-ed critical of university policies on Palestine.

Deep Look

A Vermont federal judge is considering whether he has the authority to oversee the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University who was detained by U.S. immigration officials in late March. The case has drawn national attention as it touches on issues of immigration enforcement, academic freedom, and First Amendment rights.

Ozturk, 30, was taken into custody on March 25 while walking in Somerville, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb. Her arrest, which occurred without prior notice, led to her rapid transfer through New Hampshire and Vermont, before being flown to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Basile, Louisiana the following day. Her attorneys argue this swift relocation across states was designed to undermine her access to legal recourse.

During a hearing Monday in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. District Judge William Sessions heard arguments on whether he should assume jurisdiction over Ozturk’s habeas corpus petition. Her legal team is seeking either her immediate release from ICE custody or a return to Vermont so the case can be properly heard.

“This is a student who was detained not for what she did, but for what she wrote,” said Mahsa Khanbabai, one of Ozturk’s attorneys, following the court session. She described the arrest as a clear violation of free speech and due process, rooted in political retaliation.

Ozturk’s detention came days after she co-authored an op-ed in The Tufts Daily, the university’s student newspaper. The piece criticized Tufts for failing to support students calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel and to acknowledge what the students described as a Palestinian genocide. The op-ed drew significant attention on campus and was followed by heightened scrutiny from immigration authorities.

Her legal team contends that the op-ed is the primary basis for her visa being revoked and subsequent detention. A State Department memorandum, obtained by The Washington Post, cited her connection to a student organization that had been temporarily banned from campus and claimed she helped create a “hostile environment for Jewish students.” The memo also alleged that her associations “may undermine U.S. foreign policy” and noted that her writing suggested support for a designated terrorist organization, referencing Hamas, which is classified by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization.

However, a separate internal State Department memo, drafted before Ozturk’s arrest, reportedly found no evidence that she had expressed support for terrorism or made antisemitic statements. Her attorneys say they have not yet received that memo, though it could be critical to their case.

During Monday’s hearing, Judge Sessions floated the idea of holding a hearing in May in his Vermont courtroom, should he determine that jurisdiction lies with his court. “Why not do that at the same time that the removal proceedings continue on?” he asked, noting the urgency of her legal situation.

Ozturk’s lawyers also said they have filed a request in the immigration court seeking her release on bond, while her legal status is resolved. A Justice Department attorney, arguing for dismissal of the Vermont case, stated that the immigration court—not the federal court—has jurisdiction, pushing back against efforts to move proceedings to New England.

The broader context of Ozturk’s case reflects a wave of visa revocations and travel restrictions imposed on foreign students and academics accused of participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or expressing views critical of Israel. Last week, a Louisiana immigration judge approved the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, after the U.S. government alleged he posed a national security threat.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, her attorneys argue that such allegations are unsubstantiated and politically motivated. The DHS has yet to publicly release any evidence to support the claim. A spokesperson for DHS declined to comment on pending litigation.

Her supporters see the detention as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in academic spaces, particularly against students of Middle Eastern descent who have spoken out about Israel and Palestine.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, union leaders, and immigrant rights advocates in Massachusetts and Vermont have expressed concern about the precedent such actions set and the potential chilling effect on campus activism and free speech.

As her legal team presses for her release, Ozturk remains detained in Louisiana. A decision from Judge Sessions on jurisdiction is expected soon and may determine whether the legal challenge over her detention can proceed in Vermont, closer to her academic and legal support network.

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