ICE Accused of Stalking Muslims

Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk's attorney has accused federal immigration authorities of "stalking Muslims" after she was snatched off the street by masked agents outside her home in Massachusetts.

"This appears to be a pattern—ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] stalking Muslim students as they are heading to or from iftar to break their fast," Mahsa Khanbabai told Newsweek in a statement. "As you can see in the video, DHS agents grabbed at her clothes, her hands, and her backpack before detaining her and taking her to an unknown location, in an unmarked car."

Surveillance footage shows plainclothes ICE agents surrounding Ozturk before placing her in handcuffs.

Newsweek has contacted ICE for comment via email outside of normal office hours.

Why It Matters

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Ozturk had been detained after taking part in pro-Hamas activities. The Trump administration has revoked foreign student visas of individuals who have expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments. The federal government has classified this as being pro-Hamas and it comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to root out antisemitism. However, analysts argue that the visa revocations are an infringement of First Amendment free speech rights, prompting accusations of government overreach.

What To Know

Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student, was arrested Tuesday evening in Somerville, Massachusetts, while on her way to break her Ramadan fast. Despite a court order prohibiting her removal, she was later transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana.

For nearly 24 hours, her whereabouts remained unknown, sparking concerns among her legal team and supporters.

The Turkish woman holds a master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and is a Ph.D student at Tufts.

In 2024, Ozturk co-authored an opinion essay criticizing Tufts' connections to companies linked to Israel and urging the university to "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide."

In response to Ozturk's arrest, Khanbabai condemned the actions of the DHS agents and described the arrest as unlawful.

"My client was not charged or given the opportunity to speak with a lawyer. I had the opportunity to speak with Rumeysa late Wednesday night and she was grateful to finally get an explanation of what was happening to her and to learn of all the community support she has," Khanbabai said.

She also expressed concern that Ozturk is being persecuted simply for her political beliefs and for exercising her First Amendment rights.

"Rumeysa, like all of us in America, is entitled to express her opinions freely," Khanbabai said. "Now, she is being unlawfully targeted by the Trump administration simply because she co-authored an op-ed calling for Palestinians to have basic human rights.

"This case is just one piece of the puzzle in the Trump administration's broader campaign to attack any student, green card holder, or human rights defender associated with the peaceful movement against Israel's genocide in Gaza."

The attorney also raised concerns about the federal government's disregard for the court's ruling, warning of dangerous consequences.

"We should all be horrified at the way DHS abducted Rumeysa in broad daylight," she said. "No person, regardless of their citizenship status, should be targeted over their views, especially in support of human rights."

Khanbabai issued a warning about the implications of the Trump administration ignoring a federal court order.

"The federal government's blatant disregard for the court decision sets a dangerous precedent for us as a country and worldwide. If the U.S. president doesn't have to listen to a federal court order, what does that mean for the rest of the world?"

More than 2,000 people gathered in Somerville on Wednesday to show support for Rumeysa, according to her legal team.

The Trump administration has explicitly expressed its intent to revoke the visas of individuals it perceives as supporting Hamas, despite legal arguments from attorneys that their clients are merely exercising their right to free speech and do not support the designated terrorist group. Trump officials argue that such views conflict with U.S. foreign policy.

What People Are Saying

Khanbabai told Newsweek: "We are working urgently to secure Rumeysa's immediate release and her safe return home."

Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter."DHS + ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: "We revoked her visa, it's an F-1 visa, I believe.

"If you applied for a visa to enter the United States to be a student and you tell us that the reason why you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings and creating a ruckus, we're not going to give you a visa.

"If you lie to us, and get a visa, and then enter the United States and with that visa participate in that sort of activity, we're going to take away your visa. Once you've lost your visa, you are no longer legally in the United States."

Jennifer Hoyden, a friend of Ozturk previously told Newsweek: "You cannot imagine a more gentle, compassionate, kind human being, so the things that she was being accused of and the reason for her detainment made absolutely no sense. Just absolutely did not make any sense at all. So I'm eager for this tremendous mistake to just be corrected as quickly as possible."

What Happens Next

Ozturk's legal team is working to secure her release. The Trump administration is expected to continue cracking down on migrants who express what are considered to be pro-Hamas sentiments.