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Turkish PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk was welcomed back to Massachusetts on Saturday by Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, one day after a federal judge ordered her release following more than six weeks in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
Supporters gathered at Boston Logan International Airport to greet Ozturk, who was detained by ICE agents on March 8 in Somerville after publishing an op-ed in the Tufts Daily criticizing the Trump administration's immigration policies.
"Thank you everyone for all your support and love," Ozturk said at a news conference. "I came to the United States to pursue my doctoral studies, learn and grow as a scholar, and also to contribute to a global community."
Ozturk, a Fulbright scholar at Tufts University, spoke about the impact of her detention. "In the last 45 days, at a critical time in my doctoral program, I was deprived of my freedom and education," she said.
"This was a very difficult time for me personally, for my Tufts University community, and for my loved ones in Türkiye, but I am very grateful to all of you for your support and kindness," Ozturk stated, expressing relief at being reunited with friends, teachers, and students.
She specifically thanked her legal team, noting that because of them, her faith in the American justice system continues.
Pressley strongly criticized Ozturk's detention, describing it as a "shameful injustice."
"Today we're welcoming with open arms a beloved member of our Massachusetts 7th community, a brilliant scholar, a courageous advocate, and a survivor of a shameful injustice," said Pressley. "And we're sending a message to this hostile White House that their efforts to silence Rumeysa, crush dissent and undermine our constitutional rights are being rejected."
Markey, who with Pressley and Rep. James P. McGovern had visited ICE detention facilities in Louisiana last month where Ozturk was held, also condemned her treatment.
"Rumeysa should have never been abducted off the streets of Somerville. She should have never been taken out of Massachusetts and sent to a detention site in Louisiana — more than 1,500 miles away from her community," Markey said. "And she should have never had to suffer intolerable living conditions and multiple and worsening asthma attacks while unlawfully detained for more than six weeks."
Ozturk was released on bail following a ruling by U.S. Federal Judge William Sessions in Vermont on May 9. However, her legal team emphasized that the fight is far from over.
Mahsa Khanbabai, one of Ozturk's attorneys, said they will continue their legal battle against what they call the "illegal cancellation" of her visa at a hearing in Vermont on May 22.
"They did this outside their authority, in a way we've never seen in our immigration law history regarding students," Khanbabai said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, which has led Ozturk's legal defense, disputed allegations that she supported Hamas, claims used to justify her detention.
"These are unsupported allegations for which they (U.S. government lawyers) were given ample time to come forward and prove, but for which no evidence was presented in any way," said Carol Rose, director of ACLU Massachusetts.
Markey characterized Ozturk's release as "only the beginning of the fight for justice" with national implications.
"Freedom of speech and due process are everyone's rights, we all share these rights. That's why this homecoming is just the beginning of the struggle we all need to undertake for all our freedoms," Markey said. "This is a victory for Rumeysa, for justice, and for our democracy."
"We cannot allow this administration to trample individuals' constitutional rights to free speech and due process," he added. "Her homecoming is only the beginning of the fight for justice – not only for Rumeysa, but for every family, for every neighbor, and for everyone who wishes to ensure they can live free."
Ozturk expressed her eagerness to resume her academic work. "I am so excited to get back to my students and communicate with them through this online course," she said.
Before concluding her remarks, Ozturk urged supporters to remember others in immigration detention: "I would also like to remind you one more time, please don't forget about all the wonderful women in the immigration and financial system."
The case has drawn attention as part of what advocates describe as a broader pattern of enforcement actions against international students, particularly those expressing political views critical of U.S. policies.
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