Immigration Judge Terminates Deportation Proceedings Against Turkish PhD Student Rümeysa Öztürk at Tufts University

Timeline of Rümeysa Öztürk's Case: From Arrest to Judicial Victory

The saga of Rümeysa Öztürk began on March 25, 2025, when the 30-year-old Turkish national and fifth-year PhD candidate at Tufts University's Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development was detained by six plainclothes agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 79 78 Öztürk, who was heading to an Iftar dinner at Tufts Interfaith Center to break her Ramadan fast, was approached outside her Somerville, Massachusetts apartment. Video footage captured masked agents handcuffing her amid her cries of fear, an incident initially mistaken for a kidnapping by witnesses. 77 Her F-1 student visa, which allows international students to study full-time at accredited U.S. institutions, had been secretly revoked earlier that evening at 7:32 p.m., according to updates in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the federal database tracking nonimmigrant students and scholars. 76

Without informing her counsel or the court, ICE transferred Öztürk across state lines to Vermont and eventually to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, over 1,500 miles away. She endured 45 days in detention, reporting sleep deprivation during questioning, asthma attacks without proper medical care, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, limited food and water, and denial of religious accommodations. 78 On May 9, 2025, U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered her immediate release on bail, citing no evidence supporting her detention and potential harm to her health. 78

Legal proceedings intensified. On December 5, 2025, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled her SEVIS record wrongfully terminated and ordered reinstatement, enabling her return to studies—though DHS appealed on February 6, 2026. 79 Unsealed documents on January 22, 2026, in the related AAUP v. Rubio case confirmed targeting solely for her op-ed, violating First Amendment rights. 77 Finally, on January 29, 2026, Immigration Judge Roopal Patel terminated removal proceedings, ruling DHS failed to meet its burden of proving deportability. 75 This decision, announced publicly on February 9, 2026, allows Öztürk to remain in the U.S. pending any appeals.

The Op-Ed at the Heart of the Controversy

Öztürk's detention stemmed from a March 26, 2024, op-ed co-authored with Fatima Rahman, Genesis Perez, and others in The Tufts Daily, titled "Try again, President Kumar: Renewing calls for Tufts to adopt March 4 TCU Senate resolutions." 66 The piece criticized Tufts President Sunil Kumar's response to Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate resolutions urging divestment from companies tied to Israel and recognition of what the authors termed the "Palestinian genocide" amid Israel's war in Gaza. Endorsed by 32 signatories, it called for transparency in university investments and alignment with student demands for ethical policies. 78

Tufts affirmed the op-ed complied with its Declaration on Freedom of Expression and policies, stating it posed no violation. 76 However, pro-Israel groups like Canary Mission publicized her details, labeling her anti-Israel, and StopAntisemitism accused her of leading violent pro-Hamas events—claims denied by her brother and colleagues, who noted her activism limited to the op-ed. 78 A State Department memo cited the piece as undermining U.S. foreign policy by fostering a hostile environment for Jewish students and implying support for Hamas, though no evidence of terrorism emerged. 77

This case highlights tensions between student expression and administrative discretion in visa revocations under Immigration and Nationality Act sections 237(a)(1)(C)(i) for status violations or 237(a)(4)(C)(i) for foreign policy consequences.

Tufts University's Stance and Campus Support

Tufts swiftly supported Öztürk. On April 2, 2025, President Kumar issued a declaration affirming her good standing as a dedicated researcher on prosocial social media use for children, compliance with visa rules, and the op-ed's legitimacy. 76 The university highlighted her contributions and the vital role of its 3,500+ international students, who comprise 20% of enrollment and drive innovation. 76 Protests erupted on campus and in Boston, with over 200 rallying, joined by Mayor Michelle Wu and Attorney General Andrea Campbell. 78

Faculty praised her work ethic; post-release, Tufts welcomed her return, reinforcing commitment to due process. For faculty navigating similar issues, resources like academic career advice can aid resilience.

Trump Administration's Broader Crackdown on Campus Activism

Öztürk's case exemplifies the Trump administration's 2025 policy targeting pro-Palestinian activism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to revoke visas for "Hamas supporters," leading to over 1,800 F-1 and J-1 statuses terminated across 270+ institutions by April 2025. 54 51 Nearly 1,700 student visas were revoked, primarily affecting Middle Eastern and Muslim students at universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Tufts. 46

DHS claimed investigations linked activities to terrorism support, but courts found scant evidence, often tying actions to speech.ACLU Press Release Critics, including 27 Jewish organizations, decried it as First Amendment suppression.

Statistics: Enrollment Declines and Economic Ripples

New international undergraduate enrollment dropped 25% fall 2025 versus 2024, with overall new intl students down 17%, per Institute of International Education data. 56 60 International students contribute $45 billion annually to U.S. economy, funding 378,000 jobs; losses hit small private colleges hardest. 58

• 1,818+ statuses revoked by April 2025 across 270 institutions.
• 17% drop in new intl enrollments fall 2025.
• 130+ schools reported 1,000+ cases by April.
• Intl students: 1.1 million in U.S., down from peaks amid policy fears.

Universities like Tufts face budget strains; explore faculty positions amid shifting landscapes.

Free Speech vs. National Security: Legal and Ethical Debates

Judge Sessions noted detention chills noncitizen speech; Judge Patel's ruling affirms due process. 77 Attorneys like Mahsa Khanbabai called it "Kafkaesque" weaponization of immigration law. 79 Öztürk hopes it inspires justice for Gaza and ICE detainees: "True justice will prevail when we talk openly." 79

Stakeholders: ACLU hails habeas as liberty safeguard; DHS insists no First Amendment shield for terror advocacy.

Impacts on U.S. Higher Education Institutions

Campuses grapple with fear: intl offices advise caution on activism; enrollment dips threaten research funding. 57 Tufts, with strong intl programs, exemplifies resilience but warns of innovation losses. Administrators seek policy advocacy; faculty mentor students via platforms like Rate My Professor.

Future Outlook: Challenges and Actionable Strategies

With appeals possible, Öztürk's reinstatement offers precedent. Intl students should maintain SEVIS compliance, document activism, consult immigration attorneys early. Universities bolster legal aid funds. 2026 projections: further drops unless policies ease. 62

Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash

• Monitor SEVIS weekly.
• Join university intl centers.
• Explore OPT/STEM extensions cautiously.
• Advocate via AAUP.

Navigating Higher Ed Amid Immigration Uncertainty

This ruling underscores U.S. higher ed's appeal despite hurdles. For careers, higher ed jobs, university jobs, and career advice remain vital. Rate professors at Rate My Professor; post jobs at Post a Job. Öztürk's perseverance inspires: justice, though delayed, prevails.