Turkish Doctoral Student’s Detention by ICE Raises Legal and Human Rights Concerns

Rümeysa Öztürk remains in ICE custody under unsanitary conditions as her lawyers challenge her detention and allege retaliation for pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student, was detained by ICE on March 25 without prior notice of her student visa revocation.
Her detention in a South Louisiana ICE facility has been marked by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, exacerbating her asthma and leading to multiple untreated medical emergencies.
Öztürk alleges that her hijab was forcibly removed during a medical emergency, raising concerns of discriminatory treatment in custody.
Her attorneys argue that her detention is retaliation for co-authoring a pro-Palestinian op-ed, claiming it violates her First Amendment rights.
A federal court in Vermont has jurisdiction over her case, with deportation temporarily blocked, and hearings are set to address her release or transfer closer to her legal representation.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency