In Somerville, Massachusetts, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student named Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents on March 26, 2025. The incident caused significant alarm, with her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, stating that she was stopped shortly after leaving her home for an iftar dinner during Ramadan.
Video footage shows multiple individuals in unmarked vehicles arresting Ozturk, making her feel like a victim of a kidnapping as she protested. Neighbors, including software engineer Michael Mathis, expressed shock and concern about the nature of her arrest. “It looked like a kidnapping,” he remarked, highlighting the unsettling nature of the agents wearing masks and driving unmarked cars.
Tufts University, where Ozturk is a doctoral student, has stated that it had no prior knowledge of the situation. University President Sunil Kumar confirmed that her visa had been terminated but did not provide further information about the reasons for her detention.
Prominent figures, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, have condemned the arrest as a serious violation of Ozturk’s rights, calling for her immediate release. “We won’t stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students,” Pressley said.
Concerns about Ozturk’s detention intensified when she was reported to be held at an ICE facility in Louisiana, despite a federal judge’s order not to move her outside Massachusetts without prior notice. The DHS confirmed her detention, claiming she supported a foreign terrorist organization, a claim that has been fiercely contested by her supporters.
Ozturk’s academic work includes co-authoring an op-ed in “The Tufts Daily,” arguing for the university to recognize Palestinian issues. While some argue that her public comments could be misconstrued, her friends insist she has not been actively involved in protests. Reyyan Bilge, a friend and professor, described her as compassionate and focused on research without any trace of anti-Semitism.
While protests in support of Ozturk have been organized, they also reflect growing fears over the treatment of immigrants and U.S. foreign policy. Participants at a rally echoed sentiments that undocumented and documented immigrants are increasingly vulnerable to government overreach. The Turkish government is reportedly in contact with U.S. officials to seek clarity and support for Ozturk, further complicating the political dynamics surrounding this case.
The escalating tensions among the U.S. government, diplomatic relations, and immigrant rights highlight broader issues at play. As reported incidents of visa revocations and detentions target individuals who engage in political dissent or activism, the case of Rumeysa Ozturk stands as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by international students, particularly those from politically sensitive backgrounds.
For more details on immigration policies and their implications, consider reading resources from the American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights organizations.
Check out this related article: Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk Detained by ICE: What You Need to Know
Source linkAndrea Joy Campbell, Donald Trump, Colleges and universities, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Massachusetts, Boston, United States, General news, MA State Wire, RI State Wire, Michael Mathis, Immigration, Palestinian territories government, Louisiana, Education, Race and ethnicity, Indira Talwani, Israel, Sunil Kumar, Robert Badendieck, Roz Nazzaro, World news, United States government, Protests and demonstrations, Patrick Collins, Kidnapping, U.S. news, Government surveillance, Politics, World News, Race and Ethnicity
