On March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Ozturk was on her way to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast when she was intercepted near her residence by six plainclothes officers with their faces covered, who took her to a vehicle.
ICE detention of student caught on tape
This incident was captured by security cameras and has generated a wave of protests and debates about civil liberties in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accuses Ozturk of engaging in activities in support of Hamas, an organization considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
These accusations are based on his pro-Palestinian activism, including co-authoring an op-ed in the Tufts student newspaper that advocated for the university to cut ties with Israel and mentioned the “Palestinian genocide” in Gaza.
However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims.
Where did the detained student end up?
Following her arrest, Ozturk was transferred to the ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, despite a court order requiring a 48-hour notice prior to any transfer out of Massachusetts, according to media outlets such as Telemundo.
His lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, reported that Ozturk was denied communication with his legal defense for more than 24 hours and that his F-1 visa was revoked without notice.
This arrest has generated outrage in the academic community and among civil rights advocates.
This isn't the first case of ICE arresting students during the Trump administration, and that's why academics are speaking out
Protesting the arrest
Students and faculty at Tufts University have called for protests demanding Ozturk’s release and denouncing what they see as a violation of free speech and political activism.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has also criticized such actions, pointing to a troubling pattern of repression of civil liberties by the Trump administration.
Ozturk’s case is not isolated.
Other international students have been detained in similar circumstances.
For example, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and student at Columbia University, was arrested by ICE on charges of participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
These incidents reflect a growing trend of arrests of foreign students involved in political activism, especially those critical of Israeli policies.
Tension over Trump’s policies
Buzzy
The arrest of Rumeysa Ozturk highlights the tensions between national security and civil liberties in the United States.
While the authorities argue that these actions are necessary to prevent support for terrorist organizations, critics claim that political activism is being criminalized and freedom of expression restricted.
The Hispanic community in the United States, which has also faced challenges related to immigration and civil rights, may find in this case a particular resonance and a call for vigilance in the defense of fundamental freedoms.
Find out more at QueOnnda.com.
