Turkish student detained in handcuffs in the US

It has been reported that Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish student pursuing a doctorate at Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts, was detained by officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is under the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

MOMENT OF DETENTION CAPTURED ON CAMERA

Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar in her final year of study, was stopped by plainclothes ICE agents yesterday evening as she was leaving her home to go to iftar. In security camera footage shared on social media, some masked officers were seen surrounding Öztürk and attempting to forcibly take the phone from her hand. The agents detained Öztürk by handcuffing her behind her back. The Turkish student's objections were captured on camera at that moment.

Turkish doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk detained by ICE police in the US without reason given

?? Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk, who is pursuing a doctorate at Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts, was detained by the US Department of Homeland Security near her home yesterday evening… pic.twitter.com/jdqJiiVuGm

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) March 26, 2025

It was reported that Öztürk is still listed as "in custody" in the ICE database, but no official statement has been made by the authorities.

STATEMENT FROM HER LAWYER AND THE UNIVERSITY

Öztürk's lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, stated that her client holds a valid F-1 student visa, saying, "Rumeysa Öztürk is a Turkish citizen who maintains valid F-1 status as a doctoral student at Tufts University. On the evening of March 25, she was detained by DHS agents near her home in Somerville, MA, while on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast."

Furthermore, noting that she "does not know where Öztürk is and has been unable to reach her," Khanbabai emphasized that "no charges have been filed" against her client so far.

Tufts University also announced in a statement that "the university administration was not notified in any way regarding the detention in question." Turkish students at the university stated that Öztürk had contacted her family just before being detained and that no news has been heard from her since.

The Turkish student's friends said they could not reach Öztürk, who was detained, and that "she was able to call her family and inform them before being taken into custody." They also stated that Öztürk wrote a pro-Palestinian article last year and that "the website Canary Mission, which profiles supporters of Palestinian protests, published her personal information some time ago, along with an image of an article she wrote on this subject last year." It was announced that pro-Palestinian activists in Boston will hold a protest for Öztürk's release.

REACTION TO THE DETENTION FROM Senatör Warren

US Democratic Senatör Elizabeth Warren, in a statement on her social media account, evaluated the detention of Rümeysa Öztürk as "the latest example of a disturbing pattern aimed at suppressing civil liberties." Stating that pro-Palestinian students and academics have been targeted recently, Warren said, "The Trump administration is targeting students with legal status and tearing people away from their communities without due process."

Warren stated that this is "an attack on the fundamental freedoms outlined in the US Constitution."

US AUTHORITIES: "ACTIVITIES INCONSISTENT WITH STUDENT VISA"

ICE officials alleged that Öztürk engaged in "activities" inconsistent with her student visa. A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security stated, "Rümeysa Öztürk is a Turkish citizen and a doctoral student at Tufts University who has the privilege of being in this country on a visa. DHS and ICE investigations have determined that Öztürk engaged in activities to support Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that enjoys killing Americans."

The statement continued by noting that "a student visa issued by the US is 'a special permission, not a right,' and that the activities Öztürk is alleged to have engaged in constitute 'grounds for the termination' of this visa."

TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TAKES ACTION

The Turkish Embassy in Washington, in a statement on the X platform, noted that "the situation of Öztürk, who was detained in Boston, is being followed closely" and that "Öztürk's family is being informed regularly." The statement said, "Initiatives have been taken before the US Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other authorities. Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizen."

News Source: AA