A Turkish PhD student and former Fulbright scholar, Rümeysa Öztürk, was detained without charge by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents after co-authoring an op-ed about Gaza in a campus newspaper. Despite not being charged with any crime, Öztürk was denied bond by an immigration judge in Louisiana, who deemed her a flight risk and a danger to the community. The Department of Homeland Security’s case against Öztürk is based solely on a one-paragraph memorandum that revoked her visa due to her involvement in the op-ed.

Legal proceedings are underway to secure Öztürk’s release, with her legal team urgently petitioning a federal court in Vermont. They argue that her detention is unconstitutional, as her actions are protected speech and do not constitute any crime. Öztürk’s attorneys are seeking an immediate release or a return to detention in Vermont, emphasizing the urgency of the situation given her deteriorating health in detention.

Öztürk’s case is part of a larger trend where individuals associated with US universities face visa revocations or denials due to expressing support for Palestinians. The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on pro-Palestine activities has led to the cancellation of hundreds of student visas. Öztürk’s situation highlights the lack of due process in the visa termination process for targeted individuals.

As legal battles continue to unfold, Öztürk’s case serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by individuals whose rights and freedoms are at stake due to their political opinions and expressions.