U.S. District Judge Denise Casper has temporarily halted the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish Fulbright scholar and PhD student at Tufts University, following her arrest by federal agents on March 25, 2025.
Ozturk, detained near her Massachusetts home while heading to an iftar gathering during Ramadan, was accused of supporting Hamas, though no specific evidence has been provided.
The arrest appears linked to an op-ed she co-authored criticizing Tufts University’s response to calls for divestment from companies tied to Israel.
Judge Casper’s order bars Ozturk’s deportation until the court determines jurisdiction and has given the Trump administration until Tuesday, April 1, to respond to her legal team’s complaint.
Ozturk’s attorneys, including the ACLU of Massachusetts, argue her detention violates her First Amendment right to free speech and Fifth Amendment right to due process.
ACLU Executive Director Carol Rose emphasized, “No person, regardless of immigration status, can be arrested, detained, or deported as punishment for their political views.”
The case has sparked international and domestic outcry, with Turkey’s foreign ministry actively engaging in diplomatic efforts to secure her release.
Turkish diplomatic missions are providing consular and legal support, including a visit from the Consul General in Houston to Ozturk at the South Louisiana ICE processing center.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed over 300 student visas have been revoked under the Trump administration’s policy targeting students deemed disruptive, raising concerns about academic freedom and due process.
Ozturk’s case highlights growing tensions between immigration enforcement, free speech, and international diplomacy, with critics warning of a chilling effect on academic discourse and political expression in the U.S.
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