Sun May 11 09:43:50 UTC 2025: ## Turkish Doctoral Student Freed After Six Weeks in US Immigration Detention
**Boston, MA** – Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, has been released from US immigration detention after a six-week ordeal that her lawyers and supporters described as a politically motivated attack on free speech. Ozturk, a Fulbright scholar, was arrested on March 25th and held in Louisiana following the revocation of her student visa.
The arrest, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, sparked outrage amongst academics and civil liberties advocates. Ozturk’s supporters believe she was targeted for co-authoring an opinion piece in her student newspaper calling for Tufts University to recognize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. This, coupled with statements from prominent figures like former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoing similar accusations against Israel, fueled concerns that Ozturk’s detention was a reprisal for expressing pro-Palestine views.
A federal judge ordered Ozturk’s release on Friday, citing serious constitutional questions raised by her claim of unlawful detention. The judge stated that her case presented potential violations of her free speech and due process rights. Ozturk herself described the experience as “very difficult,” noting the loss of her freedom and interruption of her doctoral studies. However, upon her arrival at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday, she expressed gratitude for the support received and stated, “I have faith in the American system of justice.”
Ozturk’s case is not isolated. Her lawyers, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue her detention is part of a broader pattern targeting foreign students with pro-Palestine viewpoints, a practice that intensified under the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security, without providing evidence, previously accused Ozturk of supporting Hamas. Ozturk denies any wrongdoing.
While released on bail, Ozturk’s legal battle continues. Her lawyers maintain her arrest and detention were intended to punish her for protected speech and to silence dissent. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley described Ozturk’s detention conditions as “squalid and inhumane,” highlighting concerns over inadequate medical care for her asthma. The case raises significant concerns about academic freedom and the treatment of foreign students in the US.
First Piper 