Amid Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian supporters, ICE officials have detained and revoked the visa of a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. The detention of 30-year-old Rumeysa Ozturk went viral on social media after a video showed a group of masked individuals, allegedly ICE agents, taking her away in an unmarked vehicle.
As per the student’s lawyer and neighbors who witnessed the event, her detention appeared more like a “kidnapping.”
The viral video shows six individuals, with their faces covered, approaching the student outside her home in Somerville on Tuesday night.
The individuals took Ozturk’s phone and handcuffed her as she called for help. The detention occurred as Ozturk was leaving to meet friends for Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan.
“We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of,” said lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai.
Speaking to AP, Ozturk’s neighbor described the incident as resembling a kidnapping.
“They approached her and started grabbing her with their faces covered. They’re covering their faces. They’re in unmarked vehicles,” said Michael Mathis.
Tufts University has also stated that it was unaware of the detention and did not provide any information regarding Ozturk to the federal government.
“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event,” said Sunil Kumar, the President of Tufts University.
US Court Questions Ozturk’s Detention
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order to the federal government, demanding an explanation for Ozturk’s detention by Friday.
The judge also ruled that the student should not be transferred outside the District of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ prior notice.
Who is Rumeysa Ozturk?
Ozturk is a doctoral student at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. The Turkish student was enrolled at the private university on a valid F-1 visa.
In March 2024, Ozturk wrote an op-ed in the school’s newspaper, where she criticized the university’s response to the pro-Palestinian movement.
Her detention comes amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on Palestinian activists and students who participated in mass pro-Palestinian protests across U.S. universities last year.
