Overview
- At a Dec. 4 hearing in Boston, Judge Denise J. Casper questioned the rationale for terminating Rümeysa Öztürk’s SEVIS record and said she would issue a prompt ruling on her request for a preliminary injunction.
- Öztürk’s record was terminated March 25, the day masked agents arrested her after the State Department revoked her F‑1 visa, a move authorities tied to an op‑ed criticizing Tufts’ response to the war in Gaza.
- Her legal team argues the termination was arbitrary, retaliatory and unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act and the First Amendment, noting it has blocked her from campus employment in her final PhD year.
- Government attorneys say the district court lacks jurisdiction and contend ICE can end a SEVIS record when a visa is revoked and the student is deemed removable.
- Court disclosures show DHS found no evidence that Öztürk engaged in antisemitism or had terrorism ties, despite prior public statements to the contrary.