During a recent court hearing, a heated exchange unfolded between a federal government lawyer and Judge Barrington Parker Jr. over free speech protections for detained Tufts University student Rumeysa Öztürk. Detained by immigration authorities on March 25, Öztürk, a Turkish national, had her student visa revoked by the Trump administration, which cited her involvement in groups deemed potentially harmful to U.S. foreign policy. This included co-authoring an op-ed critical of Tufts’ response to the Gaza conflict. The Justice Department attorney, Drew Ensign, hesitated to claim that Öztürk’s speech was protected, which led to further questioning from Judge Parker.
In her detention at a facility in Louisiana, Öztürk has faced health issues, including asthma attacks, and reported substandard living conditions. Her legal team is seeking to have her case transferred to Vermont, where she was last before her relocation to the detention center.
On the same day, the 2nd Circuit Court also reviewed the case of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and green card holder arrested by DHS during a naturalization interview. His detention was justified by the government on the grounds of potential adverse foreign policy outcomes due to his pro-Palestinian activism, which has drawn significant political backlash.
Mahdawi was recently released on bail following his attorney’s arguments that further detention would chill free speech. Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford likened the current political climate to historical attempts to suppress dissent, emphasizing the importance of liberty. Following his release, Mahdawi expressed defiance, directly confronting the government and affirming his commitment to free speech.
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