Detained Turkish student must be transferred from Louisiana for hearing, judge rules

theguardian.comPublished: 4/18/2025

Summary

A Turkish student from Tufts University, Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained in Louisiana after reportedly writing an op-ed supporting Palestinian rights at her university, seeks to be released or moved back to Vermont. Her lawyers claim this is retaliatory, and she faces legal challenges regarding her detention and immigration proceedings. The case highlights concerns over free speech and due process under U.S. law.

Additional Summaries

A federal judge on Friday ordered that a Turkish Tufts University student detained by immigration authorities in Louisiana to be brought to Vermont by 1 May for a hearing over what her lawyers say was apparent retaliation for an op-ed piece she co-wrote in the student newspaper. US district judge William Sessions said he would hear Rumeysa Ozturk’s request to be released from detention. The 30-year-old doctoral student was taken by immigration officials as she walked along a street in the Boston suburb of Somerville on 25 March. An immigration judge denied her request for bond Wednesday. A Louisiana immigration judge has ruled that the US can deport Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil based on the federal government’s argument that he poses a national security risk.