Trump unaware of Turkish Tufts student’s ICE detention, says he’ll ‘look into it’
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on April 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (AFP Photo)
During an April 22 interview with TIME Magazine at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the case of Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana on March 25.
When asked directly whether he would instruct the Department of Justice to disclose any evidence linking Ozturk to Hamas, Trump replied: “I would have no trouble with it, no. I’ll look into it, but I’m not aware of the particular event.”
The question posed by TIME referenced Ozturk’s detention by plainclothes ICE agents and the subsequent government allegations of her association with Hamas, despite no formal charges or evidence having been made public.
Rumeysa Ozturk, Fulbright scholar detained without charge
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student and Fulbright scholar at Tufts University, remains in U.S. immigration detention following her March 25 arrest by plainclothes ICE agents in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Ozturk, 30, was detained after her student visa was revoked. She has not been charged with any crime.
Lawmakers condemn detention as ‘national disgrace’
Following a visit to the Louisiana detention center, U.S. Senator Ed Markey described the situation as a “national disgrace.” At a press conference at Boston’s Logan International Airport, Markey stated, “What has happened to Rumeysa Ozturk is … a national disgrace.”
Accompanied by Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Jim McGovern, Markey called for the immediate release of both Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder detained under similar circumstances. Pressley said, “Rumeysa has committed no crime.”
Türkiye provides legal and medical support to Ozturk
Halime Digdem Buner, Consul General of Türkiye in Boston, recently confirmed that Turkish officials are closely monitoring Ozturk’s case. Consular officials from both Boston and Houston are providing legal aid and attending court proceedings.
Ozturk is currently involved in two legal processes: an immigration case in Louisiana and a separate federal case in Vermont. A Vermont court ruled it had jurisdiction and ordered her transfer by May 1.
Key Dates:
- May 1: Deadline for transfer to Vermont
- May 9: Bail hearing
- May 22: Main appeal hearing
Legal team cites health and due process violations
According to her attorneys, including Jessie Rossman of the ACLU of Massachusetts, Ozturk has suffered multiple asthma attacks while sharing a 14-person cell with over two dozen detainees.
The legal team has requested her release or transfer, citing due process violations and health risks.
Detention tied to pro-Palestinian op-ed
Ozturk’s detention followed the publication of a March 2024 op-ed she co-wrote in The Tufts Daily. The article called for divestment from companies linked to Israel and described events in Gaza as a “Palestinian genocide.”
The U.S. State Department cited this op-ed as justification for visa revocation, alleging associations that could undermine U.S. foreign policy. A memo used by immigration authorities referenced her alleged support for groups “temporarily banned” from Tufts University.
Her attorneys deny any affiliation with such organizations. Judge William K. Sessions, in his April 18 ruling, wrote, “The op-ed is self-evidently speech regarding public issues,” noting the government had yet to provide evidence supporting a lawful reason for her continued detention.
Timeline of events on detained Tufts student
- March 25: Arrest in Somerville, Massachusetts
- March 26: Transfer to Vermont, then Louisiana
- April 4: Federal judge rules Vermont has jurisdiction
- April 14: Arguments on bond and transfer heard
- April 18: Transfer to Vermont ordered by May 1
- May 9: Bail hearing
- May 22: Detention appeal hearing
