A federal judge halted the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, after she was taken into custody by ICE agents in a plainclothes operation that went viral.
According to the New York Post, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper ruled that the Trump administration can no longer proceed with deportation attempts against Ozturk without presenting concrete evidence. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Ozturk supported Hamas—but provided no public proof.
Plainclothes ICE Arrest of Tufts Ph.D. Student Sparks Outrage
The arrest of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish-born Ph.D. student at Tufts University, ignited public outcry after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media. The clip shows ICE officers in plainclothes approaching Ozturk in Boston before seizing her phone and placing her in handcuffs. Without clear charges, she was quickly transported to a detention facility in Louisiana.
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The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Ozturk is a supporter of Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. However, no official evidence has been disclosed. Judge Casper emphasized that accusations alone are not enough to warrant deportation, citing a lack of documentation or proof of material support for terrorism.
Supporters and activists flooded social media, calling the arrest an attack on academic freedom and dissent. The arrest also reignited debates around ICE’s surveillance and profiling of Muslim and Middle Eastern individuals, especially in academic spaces.
Was Ozturk Targeted for Political Speech and Activism?
A deeper dive into Ozturk’s background reveals why the situation is so controversial. In March 2024, Ozturk co-authored an opinion piece in The Tufts Daily, where she criticized the university’s handling of anti-Israel protests. The op-ed also urged Tufts administrators to cut ties with companies allegedly linked to Israeli military operations.
Shortly after, her name appeared in the Canary Mission database—a pro-Israel watchlist that tracks individuals accused of being anti-Israel activists. Ozturk was labeled an “extremist,” despite having no criminal record or history of inciting violence.
Many advocates now argue that her arrest was politically motivated, with government agencies weaponizing immigration laws to silence dissent. Human rights groups and academic organizations have rallied to her defense, warning this case could set a dangerous precedent for international students exercising free speech.
ICE, the Trump Administration, and Patterns of Targeted Deportations
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has come under fire for ICE operations viewed as discriminatory. Under Trump’s leadership, ICE increased its targeting of immigrants tied to activism, especially those vocal on issues surrounding Palestinian rights, police brutality, and racial justice.
