BOSTON (AP) – A Tufts University student from Turkish returned to Boston on Saturday. Released from Louisiana Immigration Detention Center Where she was in custody for more than six weeks.
Upon arriving at Logan airport, Rumeysa Ozturk told reporters he was excited to return to studying during the “very difficult” period.
“In the last 45 days, I have lost both freedom and education during a critical period in my doctoral program,” she said. “But I am very grateful for all the support, kindness and care.”
The judge ordered the release of Ozturk, pending a final decision on her allegations that she was illegally detained after co-written last year on her criticism of the university’s response to Israel and the war in Gaza.
Oztzurk said she will continue her case in court, adding, “I believe in the American system of justice.”
She was joined by lawyers and Massachusetts Legislature Democrats, Sen. Edward Markey and Ayana Presley.
“Today is a tremendous day, Lumessa, as I welcome you,” Marquie said. “You are so proud of the way you fought millions of people across our country.”
Appearing in video for her bail hearing on Friday, Ozturk, 30, details Her growing asthma attacks during detention And her desire to pursue a PhD with a focus on children and social media.
Vermont District Judge William ruled that she would be released on her own perception without travel restrictions. She was not dangerous to the community or to the risk of flight, he said, noting that she might amend the release order to consider U.S. immigration and customs enforcement, or ICE terms, in consultation with her attorneys.
According to the session, the government said it did not provide evidence as to why Ozturk was arrested other than OP-ED.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Immigration Review Office did not respond to an email message seeking comment Friday afternoon.
Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an opinion piece for the campus newspaper The Tufts Daily last year. It criticized the university’s response to student activists demanding that Tufts “recognize Palestinian genocide,” disclose its investment and criticised the sale from companies with ties to Israel.
On March 25th, immigration officers surrounded Oztalc in Massachusetts and took her into custody. She was then driven to New Hampshire and Vermont and flew to detention centers in Basil, Louisiana.
Her student visa had been revoked a few days ago, but she was not informed of it, her lawyer said.
Ozturk’s lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they didn’t know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was taken into custody. Massachusetts Judge Case has been transferred to Vermont.
According to a memo from the State Department, her actions have been revoked following an assessment that “they could undermine US foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and showing support for designated terrorist organizations.”
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said in March without providing evidence that the investigation found Oztak involved in activities that the US designated Hamas as a terrorist group.
This week, the federal court of appeals upheld an order that, as his lawyers argue, would support an order to bring Ozteruk back to New England to determine whether her constitutional rights, including free speech and legitimate proceedings, have been violated.
The Ozturk immigration lawsuit launched in Louisiana is being carried out separately in that state, and Ozturk can participate remotely, the court said.
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The rush was reported from Portland, Oregon. Contributors were Associated Press author Kathy McCormack, Holly Lamar of Concord, New Hampshire, and Michael Casey of Boston.
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