Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, was recently detained by immigration authorities in Massachusetts and later transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. On March 25, Ozturk was apprehended by ICE at their St. Albans office and taken to Burlington International Airport. U.S. District Judge Dennis Casper ruled that her case would remain in federal court in Vermont and ordered the federal government not to deport her. Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, argued that her detention is illegal and politically motivated, as Ozturk had previously co-written articles criticizing Tufts for its ties to Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly revoked Ozturk’s visa in connection with her involvement in Palestinian rights movements, although acquaintances have stated she is not heavily involved. Ozturk’s arrest and treatment have sparked protests in Boston, with Vermont Governor Phil Scott condemning ICE’s actions.
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