In brief
An immigration court has blocked the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University. The court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security failed to prove grounds for her removal. Öztürk was detained last year amid a broader crackdown on foreign students and activists critical of U.S. policy. Her case highlights ongoing concerns over immigrant rights and due process in the U.S.
An immigration court blocked the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University, detained by immigration officials near her Massachusetts home, according to her attorneys.
The court concluded that the Department of Homeland Security failed to establish a valid basis for Öztürk's removal from the United States.
The immigration court also terminated Öztürk’s removal proceedings, as reported in a letter from her legal team to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has been reviewing her case.
There is a possibility that the Department of Homeland Security could appeal the court's decision.
Öztürk, studying the impact of social media on children, was arrested last March during heightened scrutiny of international students and activists by the Trump administration, particularly those involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy.
Earlier this year, she co-authored an op-ed criticizing her university’s response to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
Video footage captured the moment when masked agents detained her, placing her in an unmarked vehicle.
A petition for her release was filed in federal court and subsequently moved to Burlington, Vermont. She has been out of a detention facility in Louisiana since May and has returned to her campus.
A federal judge raised serious concerns regarding Öztürk's First Amendment rights and her health during the process. The federal government has appealed her release.
Her attorneys expressed fears that the government might attempt to detain her again while the appeal is pending.
Öztürk expressed relief and optimism, stating, “Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system’s flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the U.S. government.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment.
