Tufts Student Detained and Transferred Despite Court Order, Sparking Legal and Political Outcry
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student, remains detained in Louisiana as her legal team and lawmakers challenge the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism.
- Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by plainclothes ICE agents on March 25 in Massachusetts and transferred to a Louisiana detention center, despite a judge's order barring her removal without prior notice.
- The Trump administration alleges Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas but has provided no evidence, while her legal team argues her detention violates her constitutional rights.
- Ozturk’s only known activism includes co-authoring a 2024 op-ed critical of Tufts University's ties to Israel, which her attorneys say is protected free speech under the First Amendment.
- Her arrest has drawn widespread protests, with over 2,000 demonstrators gathering in Massachusetts and more than 30 Democratic lawmakers demanding answers from federal agencies.
- Concerns about Ozturk’s treatment have escalated after reports of an asthma attack during her transfer, further fueling criticism of the administration's handling of detainees.
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