The President of Tufts University filed a declaration in support of a motion filed in federal court by Rümeysa Öztürk, a student at the institution.
After the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) voided her visa, Öztürk was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Summerville, Massachusetts, on March 26. A representative of the DHS previously informed Fox News Digital that Öztürk had been “allowed the opportunity to reside in the country with a visa.”
The representative mentioned that examinations carried out by DHS and ICE indicated that Öztürk was involved in actions that backed Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization known for targeting and harming Americans.
The spokesperson went on to say, “Commending and aiding terrorists who harm Americans is a valid reason for visa termination. This is a logical measure for security purposes.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News on Wednesday that Öztürk had been “granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa” and that “DHS and ICE investigations found Öztürk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” (AP)
Kumar added that the university had received a notice on March 25 that Öztürk’s visa was canceled because she was a “non-immigrant status violator” of the Immigration and Naturalization Act. The notice went on to say that Öztürk’s presence in the United States could result in “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Kumar asked the federal judge to release Öztürk “without delay.”
Öztürk’s legal team previously told Fox News that the student had a valid F-1 visa before her arrest and said that no charges have been filed.
The legal team representing Öztürk told Fox News she had valid F-1 visa status prior to her arrest. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe)
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani granted a habeas petition on March 25 requesting that Öztürk not be removed from the District of Massachusetts; however, the student had already been removed at that point.
In March 2024, Öztürk co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts Daily, calling on the university to divest from Israel.
