Rümeysa Öztürk Settles with U.S. Government and Returns to Turkey
Rümeysa Öztürk, a former Tufts University PhD student, has returned to Turkey after reaching a settlement with the U.S. government regarding her immigration case. Öztürk was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 for over six weeks following her co-authorship of an op-ed advocating for Palestinian rights and criticizing university funding ties to Israel. Although an immigration judge initially terminated removal proceedings, the government appealed. The final settlement involves a joint request to terminate proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Crucially, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledged via letter that Öztürk maintained lawful nonimmigrant status throughout her stay, effectively voiding the previous termination of her student visa record. This ensures no future adverse immigration actions will be taken based on the 2025 incident. While DHS stated it was glad she left voluntarily, emphasizing visas as privileges, Öztürk described her return as a choice to escape state-imposed hostility. The ACLU of Massachusetts condemned her initial detention as unlawful. This resolution marks the end of a high-profile legal battle concerning free speech and international student rights in the United States.
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Rümeysa Öztürk Settles with U.S. Government and Returns to Turkey
Rümeysa Öztürk, a former Tufts University PhD student, has returned to Turkey after reaching a settlement with the U.S. government regarding her immigration case. Öztürk was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 for over six weeks following her co-authorship of an op-ed advocating for Palestinian rights and criticizing university funding ties to Israel. Although an immigration judge initially terminated removal proceedings, the government appealed. The final settlement involves a joint request to terminate proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Crucially, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledged via letter that Öztürk maintained lawful nonimmigrant status throughout her stay, effectively voiding the previous termination of her student visa record. This ensures no future adverse immigration actions will be taken based on the 2025 incident. While DHS stated it was glad she left voluntarily, emphasizing visas as privileges, Öztürk described her return as a choice to escape state-imposed hostility. The ACLU of Massachusetts condemned her initial detention as unlawful. This resolution marks the end of a high-profile legal battle concerning free speech and international student rights in the United States.
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