Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was arrested on March 26 by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. Ozturk, originally from Turkey, had been meeting friends to break her fast during Ramadan when she was detained without explanation, according to her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai.
Ozturk had been living in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, which allows international students to study in the country. Her visa was revoked following her arrest. Authorities have not filed any formal charges against her, and her lawyer argues that her detention is a violation of her constitutional rights to due process and free speech.
Ozturk’s detention follows an opinion piece she co-authored last year for Tufts University’s student newspaper, the Tufts Daily, criticizing the university’s response to calls for divestment from companies with ties to Israel and urging they “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide”.
US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin tweeted that Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans,” though specific activities were not detailed.
The arrest, which took place on a residential street in Somerville, Massachusetts, left neighbors shocked. Surveillance footage showed agents in unmarked vehicles, wearing masks, and grabbing Ozturk. One neighbor told the Associated Press the the scene “looked like a kidnapping”.
Following the arrest, Khanbabai filed a lawsuit in federal court, demanding that Ozturk not be moved out of Massachusetts without at least 48 hours’ notice. Despite this order, Ozturk was reportedly transferred to Louisiana, leading her lawyer to seek further legal action.
Tufts University President Sunil Kumar stated the university was unaware of the arrest in advance.
Demonstrators take part in the Stand with Rumeysa Ozturk, Tufts PHD Student emergency rally, at Powder House Square Park, after Ozturk was taken into custody by federal agents, in Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Faith Ninivaggi
The incident has sparked protests in Somerville, where supporters gathered to demand Ozturk’s release. Among them was U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called the detention “alarming” and an attack on civil liberties.
Ozturk’s arrest is part of a broader pattern of U.S. authorities targeting individuals involved in pro-Palestinian activism. Recent similar actions include the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, and efforts to deport other foreign-born students who have expressed support for Palestinians.
