Massachusetts Politicians Celebrate Release of Tufts Grad Student Öztürk
A group of Massachusetts lawmakers lauded a federal judge’s decision to grant bail to Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk while her immigration case proceeds. The order from U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III was described as a “victory for Rümeysa, for justice, and for our democracy,” according to a joint statement from Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley and James P. McGovern.
Öztürk, a Turkish national and a fifth-year doctoral candidate studying child development, had been detained for 45 days at a facility in Louisiana, far from her community and legal support. The Massachusetts ACLU confirmed the ruling, highlighting Öztürk’s worsening health issues, including frequent asthma attacks during her confinement. "We are relieved Rümeysa will soon return to Massachusetts,” said Jessie Rossman, the ACLU’s legal director.
Öztürk was apprehended by ICE agents while en route to break her Ramadan fast, following her co-authorship of an op-ed on the Gaza conflict. Lawmakers have criticized the detention as unjust, emphasizing her status as a valued community member and a Fulbright Scholar. “This is a young woman who did nothing wrong,” remarked U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, underscoring concerns over free speech rights.
While Öztürk was released on her own recognizance and without travel restrictions, the legal road ahead appears lengthy. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell termed the ruling a “welcome step toward justice” but reaffirmed that Öztürk should never have been detained.
Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, noted that Öztürk’s imprisonment was a consequence of her activism against oppression, questioning when speaking out for human rights became a reason for detention. The U.S. Justice Department stated that an immigration court in Louisiana continues to have jurisdiction over her case, indicating that this issue remains far from resolved.
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