A federal judge has ruled that Rumeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student facing deportation for writing an essay critical of Israel and the war in Gaza, must be transferred back to Vermont. Öztürk, a Turkish national, is currently being held in an ICE detention center in Louisiana. The judge granted a four-day stay to allow the government to appeal the decision.
The judge refused the government’s attempts to dismiss Öztürk’s habeas petition, stating that she has raised significant constitutional concerns with her arrest and detention. The Department of Homeland Security has accused her of supporting Hamas based on the essay she co-wrote for the student newspaper in 2024.
Öztürk’s attorneys have argued that advocating for human rights and freedom for the Palestinian people should not lead to imprisonment, and that the immigration laws should not be manipulated to separate people from their homes and loved ones. The ruling allows Öztürk to remain in ICE custody in Vermont while her habeas petition and removal case in immigration court proceed.
The Trump administration is trying to deport several international students for their actions protesting Israel’s conduct in the war against Hamas. Tufts University has defended Öztürk, stating that her essay did not violate university policies and was in line with its stance on free speech. The university has petitioned for her release from custody, emphasizing that there is no information suggesting she violated immigration laws. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the case.
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