Tufts Student Released from ICE Custody After Op-Ed on Gaza War

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral candidate at Tufts University, was recently released from ICE custody after a six-week detention. Her lawyers argued that her arrest was a violation of her First Amendment rights and due process, citing her co-authored op-ed in the Tufts Daily criticizing the war in Gaza and calling for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel. A federal judge in Vermont agreed, stating that the Trump administration failed to provide any evidence to justify her detention beyond the op-ed. Ozturk, visibly emotional at a press conference, expressed the difficulty of the situation for herself, her community, and Turkey. She stated, "I came to the United States to pursue my graduate studies, learn and grow as a scholar." A Tufts spokesperson expressed hope that she can resume her studies in child development as soon as possible. Ozturk's next court date is May 22nd, where the judge will weigh her confinement challenge. This case highlights the intersection of free speech, due process, and immigration policies in the United States, sparking debate about the limits of political expression and potential targeting of individuals based on their viewpoints.