Tufts graduate student who is pro-Palestinian detained by federal authorities in Massachusetts

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Mar 26, 2025

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BOSTON — A Tufts University grad student who has been vocal about her pro-Palestinian support has been detained by federal authorities in Somerville, according to reports.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Ph.D. student and Fulbright Scholar from Turkey, was taken into custody Tuesday evening by Department of Homeland Security agents outside an off-campus apartment building, Tufts’ president told the campus community.

“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,” President Sunil Kumar wrote in a message to the campus community.

“From what we have been told subsequently, the student’s visa has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true,” Kumar added. “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. Following university protocol, the Office of University Counsel will assist in connecting the student to external legal resources should the individual request our assistance.”

After the feds detained her, Ozturk in Boston federal court filed a “petition for a writ of habeas corpus” against ICE and Homeland Security.

The federal district judge, Indira Talwani, has ruled that the feds cannot ship Ozturk out of the Bay State for at least 48 hours.

“Petitioner shall not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice of the intended move,” the judge wrote. “Such notice shall be filed in writing on the docket in this proceeding, and shall state the reason why the government believes that such a movement is necessary and should notbe stayed pending further court proceedings. Once that notice has been docketed, the petitioner shall not be moved out of the District for a period of at least 48 hours from the time of that docketing.”

Ozturk — who is trying to get her Ph.D. in Child Study and Human Development — in the past has been public about her pro-Palestinian support, and has criticized the university’s administration after the Tufts Senate passed resolutions about the Israel-Hamas war.

She has been the target of the group Canary Mission — which “documents individuals and organizations that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses and beyond,” according to its website. Canary Mission posted her photo and wrote up a bio of her on its website.

The Trump administration has been cracking down on pro-Palestinian students, warning that they will be deported.

“We realize that tonight’s news will be distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community,” Tufts’ president wrote. “We will continue to provide information, support, and resources in the days ahead as more details become available to us.

“While we await further information, we want to remind the members of our community that the university has an established protocol for responding to government agents who arrive on campus (or off-campus), for an unannounced site visit,” the president added. “To activate that protocol, it is best to call the Tufts University Police Department at 617-627-3030 and inform the dispatcher, who will notify the appropriate university officials.”

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