Turkish academic Rumeysa Ozturk detained by US authorities after being targeted by Jewish lobby

A Turkish academic, Rumeysa Ozturk, who works as a research assistant at Tufts University and is a graduate of Columbia University’s Teachers College, was detained by U.S. authorities on Tuesday for her involvement in pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Ozturk, a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, was arrested outside her off-campus apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk’s detention follows her name, views, and photo being published on a website that targets supporters of Palestine.

The Turkish national was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 25 near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, while on her way to an iftar dinner to break her fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

ICE officials confirmed that Ozturk faces deportation despite holding a valid F-1 visa.

“Rumeysa Ozturk is a Turkish national who was maintaining valid F-1 status as a PhD student at Tufts University,” said her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, in a statement. “Rumeysa was heading to meet with friends when she was detained by DHS (Department of Homeland Security) agents. We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her.”

Ozturk’s detention follows a campaign by Canary Mission, a pro-Israel website that blacklists pro-Palestinian students and activists. In 2024, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts University newspaper, urging the university to recognize what she called the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Turkish academic Rumeysa Ozturk detained by US authorities after being targeted by pro-Israel groups for Palestine protests

◼️ Ozturk recently co-authored article condemning Israel's actions in Gaza

◼️She now faces deportation despite holding a valid F-1 visa pic.twitter.com/XEzbZobcXK

— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) March 26, 2025

Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian students

Her detention also occurs amid the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian students and academics, including Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, and Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri.

The Trump administration has accused Khalil and other pro-Palestinian students of engaging in “activities aligned with Hamas,” though no evidence has been provided.

Ozturk’s attorney has filed a habeas petition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, requesting her release from detention. Judge Indira Talwani issued an order to ICE, stipulating that Ozturk should not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without prior notice.

A viral video captured the moments of Ozturk’s detention, showing ICE agents handcuffing her despite her not resisting. In the video, Ozturk is heard speaking to her mother in Turkish: “Mom, I have to hang up,” she says.

Meanwhile, a protest against Ozturk’s detention is scheduled to take place on March 26 in Somerville, Massachusetts.

No charges have been filed against Ozturk, according to her lawyer. Khanbabai filed a habeas petition requesting that Ozturk not be moved out of the District of Massachusetts. Judge Indira Talwani granted the petition late Tuesday.

‘Student’s visa status terminated’

In an email to students, Tufts University confirmed that an international graduate student had been taken into custody by federal authorities, though the university did not disclose the student’s name.

“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event,” said Tufts University President Sunil Kumar. “From what we have been told subsequently, the student’s visa status has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true.”

The university added that it is providing legal assistance to Ozturk. “Following university protocol, the Office of University Counsel will assist in connecting the student to external legal resources should the individual request our assistance,” it stated.

Reporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza

Ozturk had recently co-authored an article in Tufts Daily, in which she stated that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and defended students’ right to protest.

Ozturk remains listed in the ICE database as “in custody.” ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

Since October 2023, student protests in solidarity with Palestine have intensified across U.S. campuses, with many demonstrations met by aggressive law enforcement responses. The Trump administration’s renewed efforts to deport foreign students involved in these protests have raised alarm among human rights advocates.