Wed Mar 26 21:39:05 UTC 2025: ## Tufts Doctoral Student Detained by Federal Agents Amidst Pro-Palestinian Activism

**Boston, MA –** A Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, Rumeysa Ozturk, was arrested and had her visa revoked by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, sparking outrage and protests. Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar studying child study and human development, was apprehended while leaving her home to break her Ramadan fast. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, filed a lawsuit claiming the detention was unlawful and a violation of her client’s free speech rights.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. McLaughlin did not specify the nature of these activities. However, Ozturk’s arrest comes a year after she co-authored an opinion piece in the *Tufts Daily* criticizing the university’s response to calls for divestment from companies with ties to Israel.

Khanbabai argues that Ozturk’s pro-Palestinian activism played a role in her detention, citing a pattern of similar arrests targeting foreign-born students involved in such activities under the Trump administration. This pattern includes the recent detention of a Columbia University graduate and the attempted detention of a South Korean-born Columbia University student, both legally residing in the US and involved in pro-Palestinian protests. A Lebanese doctor at Brown University was also recently deported after alleged pro-Hezbollah sentiments were found on her phone.

Following Ozturk’s transfer to Louisiana despite a court order to keep her in Massachusetts, Khanbabai requested a court order to ensure access to her client. Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the arrest, calling it the “latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties.” A rally in support of Ozturk is planned. Witnesses described the arrest as a forceful event involving unmarked vehicles and agents covering their faces.

Tufts University President Sunil Kumar stated the university had no prior knowledge of the arrest and expressed concern for its international students. Critics condemn the administration’s actions, arguing they conflate criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Semitism and support for terrorist organizations. The ongoing legal battle highlights the intersection of immigration policy, free speech, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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