Türkiye closely monitors detainment of Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk by ICE
Türkiye is closely monitoring the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University and Fulbright scholar, who was detained and later reportedly arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts.
The Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC said in a statement Wednesday that it contacted the US Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other relevant authorities.
“The situation of our citizen Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained in Boston, USA, is being closely monitored, and her family is regularly informed,” the embassy stated. “Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal assistance to protect the rights of our citizen.”
Detention during Ramadan raises concerns
Ozturk was taken into custody late Tuesday while she was en route to an breaking-fast (“Iftar”) dinner, according to her lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai. She was reportedly detained by masked federal agents without resisting arrest.
“Rumeysa Ozturk is a Turkish national who was maintaining valid F-1 status as a PhD student at Tufts University,” Khanbabai said in a statement. “Rumeysa was heading to meet with friends to break her Ramadan fast on the evening of March 25th when she was detained near her home in Somerville, MA by DHS agents.”
“No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of. I filed a habeas petition requesting that she not be moved out of the District of MA which was granted by Judge [Indira] Talwani last night,” according to her lawyer.
Authorities claim Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a claim strongly denied by her family and legal team.
In a statement to ABC News, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said: “Rumeysa Ozturk is a Turkish national and Tufts University graduate student, granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa. DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security.”
A viral video capturing her arrest shows her being handcuffed despite no signs of resistance.
Family responds to arrest
Her brother, Dr. Asim Ozturk, issued a written statement condemning the arrest.
“As someone who has completed a doctorate in International Relations, I strongly condemn this incident both legally and academically,” he said. “My sister was detained just because her name appeared on a co-authored article in the university newspaper.”
“She did not engage in any provocative or aggressive actions regarding Palestine,” he added, accusing ICE of “witch-hunting” and stating that Canary Mission had “blacklisted” her based on the article.
“Because of her Muslim identity, she is being targeted by such unjust actions,” he said. “This arrest is a step that disregards and contradicts the West’s and America’s foundational values of freedom of expression.”
Ozturk was a top student in Türkiye before beginning her doctoral studies in the US with a Fulbright scholarship.
US lawmakers decry government action
Several US lawmakers criticized the detention, calling it part of a broader pattern of suppressing free speech and civil liberties.
“The Trump administration is abducting people off the streets,” Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said on Instagram. “They are starting with people who stand up for Palestinians and human rights…but they won’t stop there.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren also responded, “This arrest is the latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties,” she said. “The Trump administration is targeting students with legal status and ripping people out of their communities without due process. This is an attack on our Constitution and basic freedoms—and we will push back.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar called the situation ‘horrifying.’ “Disappearing and targeting students with legal status over peaceful political speech is unconstitutional and a clear violation of due process and free speech. Another blatant act of authoritarianism by the Trump Administration. Rumeysa must be released,” she said on X.
New York Representative Nydia Velazquez added, “Rumeysa Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar, was ambushed on the street for criticizing U.S. foreign policy. This isn’t immigration enforcement. It’s political repression. She must be released immediately,” she wrote on X.
“Massachusetts has been welcoming students and immigrants for four centuries. The footage I saw today of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk being detained by masked officers is contrary to that tradition. Ms. Ozturk has no reported record of violence or harassment; she did co-write an op-ed about Israel, with which I disagree. I have written about my opposing view. That’s how America works. Revoking her visa because of her political viewpoint is not how America works,” said Massachusetts Congressman, Rep. Jake Auchincloss on X.
Rights groups raise alarm over academic freedom
Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, executive director of CAIR-MA, denounced the arrest.
“We unequivocally condemn the abduction of a young Muslim hijab-wearing scholar by masked federal agents in broad daylight,” she said. “This alarming act of repression is a direct assault on free speech and academic freedom.”
“Massachusetts residents must recognize the dangerous precedent being set—the federal government is resorting to draconian tactics to silence those who speak out against our nation’s complicity in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Online targeting and background
Ozturk’s detention follows a campaign by Canary Mission, an illegal and illcit website known for blacklisting pro-Palestine activists.
In 2024, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in The Tufts Daily, calling on the university to acknowledge what she termed the “Palestinian genocide” and divest from companies tied to Israel.
She is currently held at a detention facility in Louisiana, according to the ICE Locator website.
“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University,” the school wrote in a statement.
“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 has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student’s apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident,” it continued, in part.
“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 added.
Ongoing crackdown on pro-Palestine activists
Ozturk’s arrest comes amid broader scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activists in US academia. In recent months, ICE has targeted individuals such as Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown researcher Badar Khan Suri.
A senior official from the US Department of Homeland Security told Anadolu Agency in a written statement that Ozturk was involved in “activities inconsistent with her student visa.”
