Tufts PhD student detained by immigration authorities

A foreign-born Ph.D. student from Tufts University was detained by federal authorities Tuesday, the latest international scholar swept up in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The university said in a statement the student, whom it did not name, was arrested outside an apartment building in Somerville, Mass. The school said it had no prior knowledge the arrest would take place, and it happened off campus property.  

“From what we have been told subsequently, the student’s visa status has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true. The university has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student’s apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident,” Tufts said.  

The Boston Globe identified the student as Rumeysa Ozturk. A federal judge Tuesday ordered that Ozturk is to stay in the country for now.  

The Hill has reached out to Ozturk’s attorney and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. 

It is unclear if Ozturk, a Turkish national, has a history of participating in pro-Palestinian protests, which has been a marker for all the arrests the Trump administration has made against foreign students and faculty.

Several students have been arrested under a law that says the secretary of State can remove a noncitizen if it is determined they present a danger for the country’s foreign policy. The Trump administration has revoked student visas and is attempting to rescind the green cards of others.

The crackdown on foreign students began with Mahmoud Khalil, the lead negotiator for the Columbia University pro-Palestinian encampments who graduated in December. Khalil is still in federal custody, and where his case should be litigated is still under consideration by a judge.