State Department Exonerates Student In Controversial Detention Case

State Department investigations have cleared Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk of allegations linking her to antisemitism and terrorist support, contradicting the grounds for her controversial detention and pending deportation.

Quick Takes

Internal State Department memo found no evidence connecting Ozturk to Hamas or antisemitism despite accusations
Ozturk remains detained in Louisiana after masked ICE agents arrested her near her Massachusetts home
More than two dozen progressive Jewish organizations have filed a brief supporting Ozturk’s release
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced her visa revocation citing anti-Israel activism
A Boston judge has ruled Ozturk cannot be deported until jurisdiction over her arrest is determined

Allegations Unsupported by Government’s Own Investigation

Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk’s detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has drawn national attention after a State Department internal memo revealed no evidence supporting allegations that she harbored antisemitic views or supported terrorist organizations. The memo, which emerged during legal proceedings, contradicts the public rationale for her detention and visa revocation. Despite the lack of substantiating evidence, Ozturk remains held in a Louisiana immigration detention center where she has been for over two weeks since her arrest by masked ICE agents in Somerville, Massachusetts.

The surveillance video capturing Ozturk’s arrest has sparked significant controversy, showing agents approaching and detaining her without apparent warning. According to reports, Ozturk’s detention appears to stem from her co-authoring an op-ed piece critical of Tufts University’s handling of Palestinian resolutions. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the State Department could substantiate claims that she posed any security threat, according to the internal memo that has now come to light.

Jewish Organizations Rally in Support

In a notable development, more than two dozen progressive Jewish organizations and congregations have filed a brief in federal court in Burlington, Vermont, supporting Ozturk’s release. This coalition includes synagogues from West Newton, Massachusetts; San Francisco; and New York’s Upper West Side, as well as J-Street, a prominent pro-Israel advocacy group. Their involvement marks a significant counterpoint to accusations of antisemitism that were initially leveled against Ozturk.

The coalition filed a brief that read, in part, “Jewish people came to America to escape generations of similar predations.”

The brief draws stark parallels between Ozturk’s detention and the oppressive tactics used by authoritarian regimes that many Jewish ancestors fled. It argues that using immigration enforcement as a means to suppress political speech represents a dangerous precedent that threatens constitutional protections. The coalition’s efforts highlight growing concerns about the treatment of international students who engage in political activism while studying in the United States.

GIFT ARTICLE: A State Department memo said the Trump administration produced no evidence that a Tufts student supported antisemitism or terrorism
The internal memo was prepared days before Rumeysa Ozturk was illegally detained by ICE agentshttps://t.co/7w8Fyx6n4J

— Stuart Falk (@stufalk) April 14, 2025

Broader Pattern of Visa Revocations

Ozturk’s case appears to be part of a larger trend affecting international students in the United States. According to the Association of International Educators, nearly 1,000 international students and scholars have lost their legal status since mid-March. These visa revocations often occur with minimal notice, and students frequently remain uninformed about their alleged infractions. Those who do not leave voluntarily after losing legal status face detention and deportation proceedings similar to Ozturk’s situation.

She described her own arrest this way: “I felt very scared and concerned as the men surrounded me and grabbed my phone from me.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly defended the actions against Ozturk, stating: “If you lie to us and get a visa and then enter the United States, and with that visa participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa.” However, the internal State Department memo appears to contradict the secretary’s assertions by finding no evidence of the alleged extremist connections. Ozturk’s attorneys continue to argue that her detention violates her constitutional and First Amendment rights, with a hearing scheduled in Vermont that will determine her immediate future.