Tufts PhD student on visa arrested by immigration authorities, school says
Tufts University PhD Student Detained by Immigration Authorities, Visa Terminated, School Reports
Somerville, MA – March 26, 2025 – A doctoral student at Tufts University was arrested by U.S. immigration authorities on Tuesday night, sparking concern and outrage among the university community and local residents. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, was detained by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, while on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends. The university confirmed that her visa status has reportedly been “terminated,” though it is still seeking clarification on the matter.
Ozturk, who was legally in the United States on an F-1 student visa, was apprehended in a dramatic scene captured on a neighbor’s security camera. The footage shows plainclothes agents, some with their faces partially covered, approaching Ozturk on a residential street, confiscating her phone, and placing her in handcuffs as she cried out in confusion, asking, “What’s going on?” The arrest, which occurred around 5:30 p.m. on March 25, has since raised questions about the motives and methods of federal authorities.
Tufts University President Sunil Kumar addressed the incident in an email to the school community late Tuesday night, stating, “The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event.” Kumar added that the arrest took place off-campus and that the university was informed afterward that Ozturk’s visa had been terminated. “We seek to confirm whether that information is true,” he wrote, emphasizing that Tufts is working to gather more details about the circumstances surrounding her detention.
Ozturk’s attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, condemned the arrest, asserting that her client was maintaining valid F-1 visa status at the time of the incident. “No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of,” Khanbabai said in a statement. She revealed that Ozturk was transported to a detention facility in Louisiana, despite a federal court order issued Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from moving her out of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice. “Over twenty-four hours after her arrest, Rumeysa has yet to be processed to her final detention facility, and during this entire time, I have been unable to speak with my client,” Khanbabai added.
A DHS spokesperson defended the arrest, claiming that Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” a designated foreign terrorist organization, though no specific evidence was provided to substantiate the accusation. “A visa is a privilege, not a right,” the spokesperson said. “Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security.” The statement has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and local officials, who argue that the lack of transparency and due process undermines constitutional protections.
The incident follows a pattern of recent federal actions targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, a priority of the Trump administration, which has vowed to crack down on such activities. Ozturk had co-authored an op-ed in The Tufts Daily in March 2024, criticizing the university’s response to student demands for divestment from companies tied to Israel and calling for acknowledgment of what she described as a “Palestinian genocide.” Her supporters suggest this activism may have prompted her detention.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell called the arrest footage “disturbing,” stating, “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.” Senator Elizabeth Warren echoed these concerns, labeling the detention “an attack on our Constitution and basic freedoms.”
In Somerville, a designated sanctuary city, residents expressed shock and fear. Michael Mathis, whose camera recorded the arrest, described it as resembling “a kidnapping.” “We’re supposed to be a place of safety,” he said. “Why target her?” Hundreds gathered Wednesday evening at Powder House Square Park near Tufts to protest Ozturk’s detention, demanding her immediate release.
Tufts has pledged to connect Ozturk with external legal resources if requested, per university protocol. Meanwhile, Khanbabai has filed a habeas petition in federal court, arguing that her client’s detention is unlawful. Judge Talwani has ordered ICE to respond by Friday and explain why Ozturk was relocated in violation of the court’s directive.
As the case unfolds, it highlights growing tensions over immigration enforcement, free speech, and the treatment of international students in the United States. For now, Ozturk remains in custody at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, her fate uncertain as her legal team and supporters rally for her return.
