In a dramatic incident that showcases the ongoing immigration policies under President Trump’s administration, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and PhD student at Tufts University, was arrested near her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. The arrest occurred as she headed to an Iftar dinner to break her Ramadan fast. According to her attorney, Masha Khanbabai, Ozturk was surrounded by six plainclothes immigration officers who only identified themselves after physically restraining her.
This event follows a series of arrests targeting international students affiliated with prestigious American universities for alleged activities related to terrorist organizations, specifically under the Trump administration’s expanded immigration crackdown. Ozturk is accused of supporting Hamas, although no formal charges have been made against her at this time.
Ozturk, who was on a valid F-1 visa, recently co-wrote an op-ed critiquing Tufts’ response to the pro-Palestinian movement, highlighting her engagement within the academic community. Following her arrest, Tufts University’s President indicated that the university had no prior knowledge of her arrest and emphasized the need for due process for Ozturk.
With her detention now in an ICE facility in Louisiana, concerns are mounting about the treatment of foreign nationals, especially those involved in activism or speaking out against U.S. policies in relation to Palestine. The embassy of Turkey is closely monitoring the situation and has provided consular support to Ozturk’s family, illustrating the international implications of such arrests.
Surveillance footage of the arrest has sparked outrage, with video showing officers approaching Ozturk casually before forcefully detaining her, raising questions about the methods used by law enforcement in immigration enforcement. This situation continues to unfold as activists demand transparency and the immediate release of detainees like Ozturk, who they argue are being unjustly targeted under the current immigration stance of the Trump administration.