Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, had left her home in Somerville to meet with friends Tuesday night when she was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said in a petition filed in Boston federal court.

On Tuesday evening, March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents near her residence in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Child Study and Human Development, was apprehended while en route to an Iftar dinner to break her Ramadan fast. 

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Surveillance footage captured the arrest, showing six plainclothes officers approaching Ozturk as she walked alone. One officer restrained her from behind, while another displayed a badge and confiscated her cell phone. The officers then covered their faces with cloth masks and sunglasses before leading her into an unmarked SUV. ​CNN

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, "A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated." Specific details regarding the alleged activities were not provided.​

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Ozturk's attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, filed a petition challenging the legality of her detention and requested that she not be moved out of Massachusetts without prior notice. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order on Tuesday night to that effect. Despite this, Ozturk was transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, by Wednesday afternoon. Government lawyers argued that the transfer occurred before the court order was issued. ​TheGuardian+4CNN+4ynetnews+4CNN+2ynetnews+2The Guardian+2Boston.com+1CNN+1The Guardian

Tufts University expressed concern over the incident, with President Sunil Kumar stating that the university had no prior knowledge of the arrest and did not share any information with federal authorities. He acknowledged the distress caused to the community, particularly international students, and emphasized the university's commitment to supporting its members. ​ynetnews+3CNN+3Boston.com+3

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell described the footage of Ozturk's arrest as "disturbing" and stated that her office is closely monitoring the situation. She criticized the federal administration's actions as intimidation rather than public safety measures. ​Boston.com+1CNN+1

In response to inquiries about the case, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the State Department has revoked over 300 visas, including Ozturk's, as part of efforts to identify and remove individuals deemed harmful. Rubio emphasized the administration's commitment to national security and stated that visa revocations are based on activities such as vandalism, harassment, and creating disturbances. ​Reuters

Ozturk's detention has sparked protests and condemnation from various advocacy groups and members of the academic community, who view the actions as an attack on free speech and civil liberties. Hundreds gathered in Massachusetts to demand her immediate release, carrying signs that read "Free Rumeysa" and "We stand with Rumeysa." Critics argue that the administration is conflating support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations. ​AP News+3Reuters+3ynetnews+3Anadolu Ajansı

As of now, Ozturk remains detained in Louisiana, with her legal team challenging the basis of her detention and seeking her return to Massachusetts to continue her doctoral studies.​ Boston.com+1The Guardian+1

Turkish Student's Detention Sparks Outrage and Legal Challenges