State Dept. Finds No Evidence Against Tufts Student Ozturk

An internal memo from the U.S. State Department found no evidence linking Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Öztürk to antisemitic activities or support for Hamas, contradicting claims made by the Trump administration. The memo, reviewed by The Washington Post, indicated that while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggested revoking her visa due to her participation in anti-Israel protests, the State Department deemed there were insufficient grounds for such action. Öztürk was detained by ICE on March 25, following allegations of her involvement in activities supporting a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Despite the DHS's assertions, the memo found no terrorism-related information in government databases regarding Öztürk. Legal representatives argue that her potential deportation infringes on her right to free speech, as she co-authored an op-ed criticizing her university's response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. A federal court hearing regarding her case is scheduled to take place soon.