Judge Frees Tufts Student Detained Over Op-Ed

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE for over six weeks after co-authoring an op-ed critical of Israel and Tufts' response to the Gaza war, with the Department of Homeland Security alleging she supported Hamas but providing no evidence of violence or advocacy. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered her immediate release, criticizing the government's case as lacking substantive evidence and emphasizing the chilling effect on First Amendment rights for noncitizens. Ozturk's detention drew concern from Jewish groups, free speech advocates, and U.S. Senator Ed Markey, and highlighted issues of due process and academic freedom. She was released without monitoring or travel restrictions and plans to resume her doctoral studies, though deportation proceedings remain ongoing. Ozturk reported worsening health during her detention. The case underscores tensions around campus speech, immigration enforcement, and civil liberties in the U.S.