US judge halts deportation of Turkish student at Tufts

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Source: Reuters

US judge halts deportation of Turkish student at Tufts

By Nate Raymond and Kanishka Singh
March 29, 2025 3:40 PM UTC Updated ago

Summary
- Rumeysa Ozturk accused of activities supporting Hamas
- Supporters say her detention violates right to free speech
- Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters

BOSTON, March 29 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Massachusetts on Friday temporarily barred the deportation of a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, who voiced support for Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza and was detained by U.S. immigration officials this week.

Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities near her Massachusetts home on Tuesday, according to a video showing the arrest by masked federal agents. U.S. officials revoked her visa.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has accused Ozturk, without providing evidence, of "engaging in activities in support of Hamas," a group which the U.S. government categorizes as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Oncu Keceli, a spokesperson for Turkey’s foreign ministry, said efforts to secure Ozturk's release continued, adding consular and legal support was being provided by Turkish diplomatic missions in the U.S.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-halts-deportation-turkish-student-tufts-2025-03-29/