Judge Moves Detained Tufts Student Case to Vermont

A federal judge has transferred the case of Rümeysa Öztürk, a detained Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey, to Vermont federal court, where she was briefly held before being moved to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Öztürk was taken into custody on March 25 while walking in Somerville, Massachusetts, amid heightened scrutiny of individuals with ties to American universities who have expressed support for Palestinians. Her lawyers argued that her detention violated her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process, while government attorneys contended the case should be dismissed or moved to immigration court. Judge Denise Casper acknowledged serious concerns regarding the conduct of Öztürk's arrest and detention but determined that the lawsuit's jurisdiction would be in Vermont. This decision allows her to contest deportation in a court perceived as more favorable to her case. The judge's order keeps the government from deporting Öztürk while the case proceeds.