Legal Representatives Seek to Keep Case of Detained Tufts Student in Massachusetts
Attorneys representing a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey have filed a motion urging that her case be adjudicated in a Massachusetts federal court. This request was made in light of the student's recent detention by immigration authorities. The government, however, has countered that the case should be dismissed and redirected to an immigration judge.
Rumeysa Ozturk, aged 30, was apprehended on March 25 while walking in Somerville, a suburb of Boston. Following her arrest, she was transported to various locations, including New Hampshire and Vermont, before finally being relocated to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Basile, Louisiana.
During a court hearing, Justice Department representatives contended that Ozturk's transfer to Vermont rendered the Massachusetts court an improper venue, claiming that Ozturk's legal team should have initially filed their petition either in Vermont or Louisiana. An Assistant U.S. Attorney argued that the regulations regarding a detainee's place of confinement must be upheld.
In contrast, Ozturk's legal counsel asserted that when the petition was submitted, they were unaware of her exact location. They argued that the case should remain in Massachusetts because at the time of filing, Ozturk was under the control of Massachusetts-based ICE officials.
If the court finds in favor of the government's position, Ozturk's attorneys have requested that the case be moved to Vermont. They have raised concerns that her detention infringes upon her constitutional rights, including her rights to free speech and due process. The legal team has requested an immediate release and return to Massachusetts.
Protests occurred outside the courthouse, where supporters gathered to express solidarity with Ozturk. Additionally, a number of her colleagues and members of the Tufts community submitted letters in support of her case, portraying her as a compassionate individual who is well-regarded among her peers.
Ozturk is one of several individuals connected to U.S. academic institutions who have faced visa revocations or entry bans after expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. She participated in a group of four students who published an op-ed in The Tufts Daily last year, criticizing the university's response to demands from student activists advocating for the acknowledgment of Palestinian rights.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed last week that Ozturk's visa had been terminated, citing investigations into her alleged support for Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, though no specific evidence of such activity has been disclosed.
The situation escalated following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and a subsequent military response from Israel in Gaza that has reportedly claimed many lives.
