US judge halts deportation of Turkish student at Tufts

A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily stopped the deportation of a Turkish doctoral student. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, is studying at Tufts University. She was detained by U.S. immigration officials this week after expressing support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Ozturk was arrested near her home on Tuesday. A video showed masked federal agents taking her into custody. U.S. officials have revoked her visa.

The Department of Homeland Security accused Ozturk of supporting Hamas, a group labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S. However, they did not provide any evidence for this claim.

Turkey’s foreign ministry is working to secure Ozturk's release. They are providing consular and legal support through their diplomatic missions in the U.S. The Houston Consul General visited her in Louisiana on March 28.

Ozturk's arrest follows an opinion piece she co-authored last year. In it, she criticized Tufts' response to calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel and acknowledged "the Palestinian genocide."

A lawyer filed a lawsuit soon after her arrest to secure her release. On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union joined her defense team. They argue that her detention violates her rights to free speech and due process.

Despite a court order requiring 48 hours' notice before moving Ozturk out of Massachusetts, she was transferred to Louisiana instead.

U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued an order on Friday barring Ozturk's deportation temporarily. She wants time to determine if the court has jurisdiction over the case.

Judge Casper ordered the Trump administration to respond by Tuesday regarding Ozturk's complaint.

Mahsa Khanbabai, Ozturk's lawyer, called this decision a positive step toward securing her release so she can continue studying in Boston.

The Department of Homeland Security had no immediate comment on the situation.

President Donald Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters. He accuses them of supporting Hamas and being antisemitic while creating foreign policy challenges.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, argue that their criticism of Israel is not antisemitism or support for Hamas.

The Trump administration has revoked visas for several students and protesters, claiming over 300 visas may have been affected.