WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on Friday (March 28) that a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, who was detained by US immigration authorities after expressing support for Palestinians in Israel's war on Gaza, cannot be deported at this time. Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Fulbright Scholar in Tufts' Child Study and Human Development doctoral program, was taken into custody near her home in Massachusetts. A widely circulated video showed masked federal agents carrying out her arrest. US officials also revoked her F-1 visa.

The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts stated in its order that Ozturk "shall not be removed from the United States until further Order of this Court" to allow time for determining jurisdiction over her case. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused Ozturk—without providing evidence—of "engaging in activities in support of Hamas," an organization the US government classifies as a "foreign terrorist organization." DHS has not yet commented on the ruling, but Ozturk's lawyers welcomed the decision, calling her detention unlawful.

A year ago, Ozturk co-authored an article criticizing Tufts' stance on calls to divest from companies linked to Israel and urging recognition of the "Palestinian genocide." President Donald Trump has vowed to deport foreign pro-Palestinian demonstrators, accusing them of supporting Hamas, promoting antisemitism, and complicating US foreign policy. Protesters, including some Jewish organizations, argue that the administration is equating their criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for Hamas and antisemitism. The Trump administration has already revoked the visas of several students and activists, claiming that over 300 visas may have been rescinded.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.