An immigration court has issued a ruling that prevents the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish graduate student from Tufts University. The decision comes after her attorneys filed court documents highlighting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had not sufficiently demonstrated that Öztürk should be removed from the United States. The court's ruling took place on January 29, marking a critical turning point in Öztürk’s legal battle.
The immigration court has also officially terminated Öztürk's removal proceedings, as stated by her legal representatives in a recent letter to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has been reviewing her case. Following this ruling, the DHS now faces the option to appeal the immigration court's decision, adding another layer to the ongoing legal saga.
Öztürk, who is currently pursuing a PhD focused on children's relationships with social media, was arrested last March while simply walking down a street near her home in Massachusetts. Her detention occurred against the backdrop of the Trump administration's increased scrutiny of foreign-born students and activists involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy. This scrutiny intensified after Öztürk co-authored an op-ed that criticized her university's response to the situation in Israel and the war in Gaza.
Eyewitness accounts and video evidence from the incident depicted masked agents handcuffing Öztürk and placing her into an unmarked vehicle, drawing widespread attention and concern for her rights. A petition for her release was filed initially in federal court in Boston but was later moved to Burlington, Vermont. Since May, Öztürk has been released from a Louisiana immigrant detention center and has returned to the Tufts campus, located just outside Boston.
A federal judge had previously expressed serious concerns regarding Öztürk's First Amendment and due process rights, as well as her health circumstances during her detention. This prompted a federal government appeal regarding her release, bringing the matter before the 2nd Circuit. Öztürk’s legal team has cautioned that if the government chooses to appeal the immigration court's recent ruling to the Board of Immigration Appeals, they may attempt to detain her once again.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to inquiries about the case. Meanwhile, Öztürk expressed relief at the court's ruling, stating that it brings a sense of hope not only for her but also for others who may have been similarly wronged by the U.S. government. In a statement released by her attorneys, she noted, "Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system's flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the U.S. government."
As her situation continues to unfold, Öztürk remains engaged in her academic pursuits, highlighting the ongoing intersection of immigration policy and the rights of international students in the current political climate.
