Who is Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts PhD student arrested by US immigration authorities?

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University, was “ambushed” by federal immigration officers near her off-campus residence in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.

The incident has raised concerns among legal experts, university officials, and civil rights advocates about the circumstances of her detention and the legal basis for her arrest.

Ozturk, a Muslim student, was reportedly heading to an Iftar gathering to break her Ramzan fast when she was confronted by plainclothes agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

According to her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, Ozturk was in possession of a valid student visa at the time of her detention. Despite this, she was physically restrained, handcuffed and taken into custody without an immediate explanation.

Arrest video sparks scrutiny

Surveillance footage from the neighbourhood captured the moments leading up to Ozturk’s arrest. In the video, a man dressed in casual clothing waves at her before stepping in her path to prevent her from walking away.

When she attempts to manoeuvre around him, he blocks her again and engages her in a brief exchange before suddenly grabbing her hands. Startled, she lets out a scream, asking, “What’s going on?” as additional agents move in to restrain her.

One officer can be heard saying, “We’re the police, relax,” while another reassures her, “OK, it’s fine.”

The officers, all in plainclothes, covered their faces with cloth masks and sunglasses before placing Ozturk in an unmarked SUV and driving away. The video has since gone viral, prompting widespread criticism of the manner in which the arrest was conducted.

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NEW: I’ve obtained new footage of the abduction of Tufts student Runeysa Ozturk which includes audio of her kidnappers. pic.twitter.com/gucwFxdnOi

— Daniel Boguslaw (@DRBoguslaw) March 26, 2025

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the footage “disturbing,” adding, “Based on what we now know, it is alarming that the federal administration chose to ambush and detain her, apparently targeting a law-abiding individual because of her political views. This isn’t public safety, it’s intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinised in court.”

What allegations Ozturk faces

Federal authorities claim that Ozturk had engaged in activities in support of Hamas, which resulted in the revocation of her visa. A spokesperson for DHS stated that the termination of her visa was “grounds for removal.”

However, no specific evidence has been publicly provided to substantiate these allegations, and no formal charges have been filed against her.

On Tuesday night, Ozturk’s legal team filed a petition in the Federal District Court in Massachusetts challenging the legality of her detention. Judge Indira Talwani issued an order preventing the government from transferring her out of the state without prior written notice.

However, it remains unclear whether this order was honoured.

By Wednesday, records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed that Ozturk had been moved to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, raising concerns that she was relocated before the court’s directive could take effect.

“Like all the other immigration cases related to international students and activists who have spoken up about the atrocities in Palestine, the government throws around wild accusations but provides no evidence,” said Khanbabai. “We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately.”

How the university reacted

Tufts University was quick to respond to the arrest, stating that administrators had no prior knowledge of the federal government’s plans.

In an email to students and faculty, Tufts President Sunil Kumar stated, “We did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University.” He added, “From what we have been told subsequently, the student’s visa status has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true.”

Massive rally underway in Somerville after ICE took a Tufts University student into custody.

A DHS spokesperson says Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, “engaged in activities in support of Hamas.”

Her supporters say she was detained because of her pro-Palestinian views. pic.twitter.com/ZWG4kkA0Jh

— Rob Way (@RobWayTV) March 26, 2025

In a follow-up statement on Wednesday, Kumar acknowledged the distress caused by Ozturk’s arrest, stating, “We recognise how frightening and distressing this situation is for her, her loved ones, and the larger community here at Tufts, especially our international students, staff, and faculty who may be feeling vulnerable or unsettled by these events.”

The Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has condemned the arrest. Jessie Rossman, the organisation’s legal director, remarked, “Nobody should be disappeared from the streets of Somerville — or anywhere in America. The government must immediately release her to her friends and community in Massachusetts.”

Who is Rumeysa Ozturk?

Ozturk’s arrest is part of a growing pattern of immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration, particularly against international students with affiliations to pro-Palestinian activism.

She is among several foreign nationals detained in recent months, including Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and activist, and Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama.

Trump’s executive order on January 29 outlined a commitment to using “all available and appropriate legal tools” to combat antisemitism, including the removal of foreign nationals alleged to be involved in “unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.”

Civil liberties advocates argue that the broad language of the order has allowed the government to target students and activists without due process.

A prominent conservative watchdog group, Canary Mission, which has been accused of doxxing pro-Palestinian activists, published Ozturk’s name and photo, alleging that she had “engaged in anti-Israel activism in March 2024.”

Her attorney, however, contends that she is being unfairly targeted for expressing her political views, particularly in light of an op-ed she co-authored in the Tufts student newspaper criticising the university’s response to calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel.

Ozturk’s former professor from Istanbul Sehir University, Fatima Tuba Yaylaci, described her as a compassionate scholar dedicated to human rights. “She is a person who wouldn’t hurt a soul,” Quoted by The New York Times, Yaylaci said. “She is extremely sensitive about human rights, about not hurting people, about diversity. She is a person who wants to include everyone.”

As protests against her detention mount, an emergency rally was organised at Powder House Square in Somerville.

Standing with thousands of Somerville residents to denounce the sickening, unlawful abduction of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk by masked federal agents last night. We need to bring Rumeysa home and organize a coordinated defense of our immigrant neighbors and our rights. pic.twitter.com/LSGLLlraIi

— Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) March 27, 2025

Supporters, civil rights organisations, and fellow students are demanding her immediate release and a transparent review of the legal basis for her arrest.

With inputs from agencies