Immigration Judge Terminates Deportation Efforts Against Tufts Student Rümeysa Öztürk
An immigration judge has terminated efforts to deport Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University PhD student, as stated by her legal representatives. Lawyers for Öztürk documented the immigration judge's decision in a filing submitted to the New York-based second US circuit court of appeals, which had been reviewing a prior ruling for her release from custody in May.
Key Ruling Details
On January 29, an immigration judge determined that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to meet its burden of proving Öztürk was removable. Consequently, the proceedings against her were terminated. The decision was issued by Immigration Judge Roopal Patel in Boston.
Origin of the Proceedings
These proceedings originated with Öztürk’s arrest by immigration authorities in March, following DHS's revocation of her student visa. The sole justification provided by authorities for the visa revocation was an editorial she co-authored in Tufts’s student newspaper a year prior, which criticized her institution's response to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Prior Detention and Release
Öztürk was detained for 45 days in a Louisiana facility. A federal judge in Vermont subsequently ordered her immediate release, concluding that she presented a substantial claim that her detention constituted unlawful retaliation, infringing upon her free speech rights.
A federal judge concluded that Öztürk's detention constituted unlawful retaliation, infringing upon her free speech rights, leading to her immediate release.
Future of the Case and Responses
The immigration judge’s decision is not publicly accessible. The administration retains the option to challenge this ruling before the board of immigration appeals, which is under the jurisdiction of the US Department of Justice. DHS, responsible for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, did not respond to requests for comment.
Öztürk released a statement, expressing relief and hope that her case might offer encouragement to others who have experienced grievances with the US government.