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3w ago

Turkish PhD Student Detained by ICE Faces Legal Battle Over Jurisdiction

Rümeysa Öztürk remains in Louisiana detention as her lawyers and the Justice Department argue over where her case should be heard.

This photo shared with The Associated Press shows Rümeysa Öztürk on an apple-picking trip in 2021.
In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo)

Overview

  • Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE on March 25 after her visa was revoked without prior notice.
  • A federal judge has temporarily barred her removal from the U.S. while jurisdictional disputes are resolved, with the Justice Department pushing to transfer the case to Louisiana.
  • ICE claims Öztürk was moved to Louisiana due to a lack of bed space in New England, but local facilities dispute this justification, stating they have available space.
  • Her detention has drawn public protests and legal scrutiny, with her lawyers alleging she is being targeted for her pro-Palestinian activism and free speech.
  • The Department of Homeland Security alleges Öztürk supported Hamas but has not provided evidence, intensifying concerns about procedural transparency and academic freedom.