A Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts University, detained in a Louisiana immigration facility, must be transported back to New England by May 1 for a hearing to assess the legality of her detention following her co-authorship of an opinion piece in the student newspaper, as ordered by a federal judge on Friday.
In Burlington, Vermont, U.S. District Judge William Sessions scheduled a bail hearing for May 9 and a merit hearing for May 22. Whilst Ozturk’s legal team sought immediate release or transfer to Vermont, the justice department contended that jurisdiction belonged to a Louisiana immigration court.
The judge stated in his ruling that the proceedings would continue with Ozturk physically present, acknowledging the seriousness of her habeas claims and committing to an expeditious review process.
The case emerged after the 30-year-old doctoral candidate was apprehended by masked immigration officials on March 25 whilst walking in a Boston suburb. She was subsequently transported through New Hampshire and Vermont before being flown to Basile, Louisiana. On Wednesday, an immigration judge refused bond, citing concerns about danger and flight risk.
Ozturk’s situation reflects a broader pattern involving university-affiliated individuals whose U.S. visas were cancelled or entry denied following allegations of Palestinian support or protest participation. A similar case involves Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, whom authorities seek to deport based on national security concerns.
Initially, Ozturk’s legal representatives filed in Massachusetts, hampered by uncertainty about her location and communication restrictions. Ozturk reported making several unsuccessful attempts to contact legal counsel.
The controversy stems from an opinion piece Ozturk co-authored with three other students in “The Tufts Daily”, criticising the university’s handling of student activists’ demands regarding Palestinian issues and Israeli-linked investments.
Her legal team argues that the detention violates constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and due process. While Judge Sessions acknowledged the plausibility of these constitutional claims, he determined they were insufficient for immediate release.
A Department of Homeland Security representative claimed last month that investigations revealed Ozturk’s involvement with Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, though no supporting evidence was provided.
