Turkish Tufts Student Released After Six-Week US Detention Over Pro-Palestine Op-Ed

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over six weeks after writing an op-ed criticizing her university's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Her arrest in Massachusetts sparked outrage, especially after U.S. officials accused her of supporting Hamas and revoked her student visa along with those of hundreds of other foreign students, actions criticized as violating free speech rights. A U.S. federal judge in Vermont ordered her immediate release on bail, ruling there was no evidence justifying her prolonged detention. Tufts University condemned her arrest, stating it harmed the international student community and campus safety. Ozturk thanked supporters upon her release and plans to rest, while her case continues to challenge the government's approach to political expression among international students. The incident highlights broader tensions over free speech, immigration enforcement, and political activism in the U.S.