Federal Court Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained in Louisiana

BURLINGTON, Vermont

A federal judge ordered the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student, from a Louisiana detention center on May 9, 2025. Öztürk had spent six weeks in detention following her arrest by officers near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts.

US District Judge William K. Sessions III issued the ruling after a hearing where Öztürk testified about her detention and its impact on her health. Supporters welcomed her outside the detention center with chants of “Rümeysa! Rümeysa!” as she walked out smiling alongside her attorneys.

Öztürk’s detention had sparked national outrage, raising questions about free speech and due process. She was initially arrested in March while participating in activism related to the Gaza conflict. Her attorneys argued that her arrest was linked to her criticism of Tufts University’s response to the situation and her participation in a pro-Palestinian op-ed.

Judge Sessions noted that the government had failed to provide any evidence to justify Öztürk’s continued detention, highlighting the potential threat to free speech for non-citizens in the country. He stated, “Continued detention potentially chills the speech of the millions and millions of individuals in this country who are not citizens.”

During the hearing, Öztürk reported worsening asthma attacks while in detention, with one incident occurring during her testimony. Medical experts argued that her health deteriorated due to the conditions she faced at the detention center.

Öztürk, who holds a valid F-1 student visa and is originally from Turkey, was released on her own recognizance with supervision requirements. Judge Sessions emphasized her lack of a criminal record and declared her not a danger to the community.

Following her release, attorney Mahsa Khanbabai expressed relief but also criticized the outcome, saying, “Unfortunately, it is 45 days too late. She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine.”

Sessions has ordered regular check-ins for Öztürk as she reintegrates into her community. The legal process concerning her immigration status remains ongoing, with a habeas hearing scheduled for May 22.