A federal judge has ordered that Rumeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student facing deportation for writing an essay about Israel and Gaza, be transferred back to Vermont. The judge stayed his order for four days to allow the government to appeal. Öztürk, a Turkish national in the U.S. on a visa, is currently detained in Louisiana. The judge refused to dismiss her habeas petition, noting her constitutional concerns with her arrest.
Öztürk was arrested on March 25 for allegedly supporting Hamas in an essay she co-wrote for the student newspaper in 2024. The essay criticized Tufts University for not acknowledging the Palestinian genocide and urged them to divest from companies with ties to Israel. Her attorneys argue that advocating for human rights should not result in imprisonment.
The ruling allows Öztürk to remain in ICE custody in Vermont while her case progresses. The Trump administration is targeting international students protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza for deportation. Tufts University has supported Öztürk, stating her essay did not violate their policies or the Immigration and Naturalization Act.
The Department of Justice declined to comment on the case. Öztürk’s attorneys consider the ruling a victory and accuse the government of trying to manipulate the outcome. The case highlights the tension between free speech, immigration laws, and political activism in the U.S. under the current administration.
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