Ph.d. Student Released After Six Weeks In Ice Custody Over Pro-palestinian Op-ed

Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish nationalist and Ph.D. student astatine Tufts University, has been released from a detention installation successful Louisiana much than six weeks aft plainclothes migration authorities arrested her adjacent her location successful Somerville, Massachusetts.

A U.S. national judge successful Vermont, William K. Sessions, ruled connected Friday that Öztürk must beryllium released instantly from national custody connected bail while her lawsuit plays out. Öztürk’s lawyer claims nan Trump management illegally arrested and detained her for penning a schoolhouse newspaper op-ed criticizing her university’s consequence to nan Israel-Hamas war.

“What we heard from nan tribunal coming is what we person been saying for weeks and what courts person continued to repetition up and down done nan litigation of this lawsuit frankincense far,” Jessie Rossman, Öztürk’s attorney, said. “There’s perfectly nary grounds that justifies detaining Ms. Ozturk for a azygous day, fto unsocial nan six and a half weeks that she has been detained because she wrote a azygous op-ed successful her student newspaper exercising her First Amendment correct to definitive an opinion.”

Judge orders contiguous merchandise without monitoring

In his order, Sessions said Öztürk was to beryllium released “on her ain recognizance, without immoderate shape of Body-Worn GPS aliases different ICE monitoring astatine this time.” He besides ruled that Öztürk would not look immoderate recreation restrictions.

Arrest video sparked outrage

In March, a video of Öztürk’s apprehension went viral, drafting nationalist outrage. The footage showed respective migration officers surrounding her connected a thoroughfare adjacent her home. Her apprehension is seen arsenic portion of a broader inclination involving world students allegedly targeted by nan national authorities for their pro-Palestinian activism.

Öztürk has not been formally charged pinch immoderate crime. However, nan Trump management accused her of supporting Hamas, which is designated arsenic a violent statement by nan U.S. government.

Trump management revokes hundreds of student visas

Two days aft Öztürk’s arrest, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said nan Trump management had revoked astatine slightest 300 student visas from overseas nationals.

“Oh, we revoked her visa. It’s an F1 visa, I believe. We revoked it, and here’s why. And I’ll opportunity it again. I said it everywhere. Let maine beryllium abundantly clear,” Rubio said. “If you spell use for a visa correct now anyplace successful nan world, fto maine conscionable nonstop this connection out: if you use for a visa to participate nan United States and beryllium a student and you show america that nan logic why you’re coming to nan United States is not conscionable because you want to constitute op-eds, but because you want to participate successful movements that are progressive successful doing things for illustration vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking complete buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to springiness you a visa.”

Originally from Turkey, Öztürk is successful nan United States connected an F-1 visa.

Future ineligible proceedings planned

Judge Sessions has scheduled a early tribunal proceeding successful Burlington, Vt., to reappraisal and perceive ineligible arguments regarding nan law issues raised successful Öztürk’s case.