Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University, was detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security outside her off-campus apartment in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Ozturk, who had a valid student visa and was observing Ramadan, was taken into federal custody without any charges being filed against her as of yet. A statement from Homeland Security claimed that Ozturk had engaged in activities supporting Hamas, leading to the termination of her visa issuance. She is currently being held in a detention center in Louisiana.
Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, stated that they were unaware of Ozturk’s whereabouts and had not been able to contact her. A federal court judge in Massachusetts has ordered the government not to move Ozturk out of the state without advance notice to the court. However, it is unclear whether the government has provided such notice.
This incident has raised concerns about the treatment of international students in the U.S. and the impact of immigration policies on their educational opportunities. Ozturk’s case highlights the uncertainty and challenges faced by foreign students studying in the country. The university president expressed support for Ozturk and called for transparency in her case. Supporters are calling for her release and for due process to be followed in handling her situation.
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