Federal Judges Release International Students Detained for Pro-Palestinian Speech in Vermont, Minnesota

Two international students, Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts University and Mohammed Hoque from Minnesota State University, were ordered released by federal judges after being detained by immigration authorities under allegations tied to their pro-Palestinian activism. Ozturk, detained for over six weeks, was accused of supporting Hamas based primarily on an op-ed she co-authored criticizing Israel and urging divestment, but a judge ruled her detention violated her First Amendment rights and ordered her release on bail. Similarly, Hoque was arrested after his student visa was revoked, with the court finding that his detention was part of a pattern of targeting non-citizens for speech supporting Palestinian human rights, violating his First and Fifth Amendment rights. Both cases highlight concerns about the Trump administration's use of immigration enforcement to suppress political speech related to Palestine. Judges emphasized the unconstitutional retaliation against protected speech and noted medical and due process concerns in their rulings. These legal decisions represent significant victories for free speech advocates and international students facing deportation for their political views.