A group of Democratic lawmakers, including US senator Ed Markey and representatives Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley, have demanded the immediate release of Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention. Öztürk, detained since late March without any criminal charges, has faced inadequate conditions, including lack of proper food, cold temperatures, and denial of essential items like prescribed medication. Despite these challenges, the lawmakers praised Öztürk’s resilience during their visit to the facility in Louisiana.

The lawmakers highlighted the unjust targeting of Öztürk and fellow detainee Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, for their political views in what they described as a Trump administration crackdown on dissent. They condemned the actions as repression and authoritarianism, warning that such cases erode the rule of law and push the country towards authoritarianism.

Calling on the Department of Homeland Security to release Öztürk, drop any charges against her, and investigate the detention center’s conditions, the lawmakers emphasized the importance of defending constitutional rights against governmental overreach. They urged bipartisan action and public awareness, stressing that the defense of fundamental freedoms is a collective responsibility. In Khalil’s case, lawyers revealed the lack of a warrant for his arrest, sparking further legal challenges and concerns about due process violations. The ongoing cases of Öztürk and Khalil underscore the broader implications of government actions on civil liberties and the rule of law.