Tufts PhD student arrested amid Terrorism support allegations
Alona Yadav | Mar 28, 2025, 00:12 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by DHS agents for allegedly supporting Hamas, leading to visa issues. Her lawyer argues she had a valid F-1 visa. Ozturk was moved to a Louisiana ICE facility without communication. Tufts University is seeking details and offering legal help. No formal charges have been filed yet.
A Tufts University PhD student was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on Tuesday night, raising significant questions about her visa status and alleged connections to a terrorist organization.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, was detained near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, while heading to break her Ramadan fast with friends. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, emphasized that Ozturk was maintaining a valid F-1 student visa at the time of her arrest.
The DHS has made serious allegations against Ozturk, stating that investigations found she "engaged in activities in support of Hamas," a foreign terrorist organization. The agency asserted that supporting terrorists is grounds for visa termination, describing visa status as a "privilege, not a right."
Following her arrest, Ozturk was transferred to an ICE processing center in Basile, Louisiana, a move that her lawyer says occurred without her ability to communicate with her client. A federal judge had previously issued an order preventing DHS from removing Ozturk from Massachusetts without court notification.
Tufts University issued a statement indicating they had no prior knowledge of the incident and were seeking to confirm the details of her visa termination. The university has offered to assist Ozturk in connecting with external legal resources if requested.
No formal charges have been filed against Ozturk to date, according to her legal representation. The case highlights the complex intersections of immigration policy, academic freedom, and national security concerns.
The situation remains fluid, with both Ozturk's legal team and the university continuing to seek additional information about the circumstances of her detention.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, was detained near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, while heading to break her Ramadan fast with friends. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, emphasized that Ozturk was maintaining a valid F-1 student visa at the time of her arrest.
The DHS has made serious allegations against Ozturk, stating that investigations found she "engaged in activities in support of Hamas," a foreign terrorist organization. The agency asserted that supporting terrorists is grounds for visa termination, describing visa status as a "privilege, not a right."
Following her arrest, Ozturk was transferred to an ICE processing center in Basile, Louisiana, a move that her lawyer says occurred without her ability to communicate with her client. A federal judge had previously issued an order preventing DHS from removing Ozturk from Massachusetts without court notification.
Tufts University issued a statement indicating they had no prior knowledge of the incident and were seeking to confirm the details of her visa termination. The university has offered to assist Ozturk in connecting with external legal resources if requested.
No formal charges have been filed against Ozturk to date, according to her legal representation. The case highlights the complex intersections of immigration policy, academic freedom, and national security concerns.
The situation remains fluid, with both Ozturk's legal team and the university continuing to seek additional information about the circumstances of her detention.