A Vermont federal judge, William K. Sessions, ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, from federal custody. The judge's ruling, which comes after her arrest by immigration agents, indicates that her detention likely stemmed from retaliation against an op-ed she wrote criticizing the response of her university's leaders regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Judge Sessions noted the lack of evidence against her and termed her experience "a traumatic incident." Ozturk's case symbolizes the broader implications of the Trump administration's policies towards pro-Palestinian activism on campus, as she continues to face potential deportation.
Ozturk's arrest and detention likely occurred solely in retaliation for her op-ed criticizing Tufts leaders' response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The court finds that Ms. Ozturk has raised a substantial claim of a constitutional violation.
This ruling highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding noncitizens' activism related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Her release reflects a significant legal setback for the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists.
#immigration #constitutional-rights #pro-palestinian-activism #judicial-rulings #trump-administration
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