The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts today ruled that the challenge to ICE’s unlawful detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Ph.D. student at Tufts University, should continue in Vermont.
Ms. Öztürk was grabbed, arrested, and detained in Somerville, Massachusetts by plainclothes federal agents in apparent retaliation for an op-ed she co-authored in a student newspaper over a year ago. For nearly 24 hours, Ms. Öztürk’s attorney was unable to locate her. More than 16 hours after a federal court ordered that Ms. Öztürk not be moved out of Massachusetts in order to “preserve the status quo,” her counsel was kept in the dark about Ms. Öztürk’s whereabouts as ICE quickly and quietly moved her to three separate locations in three different states on her way to Louisiana.
Yesterday, Ms. Öztürk’s legal team argued that if the court allowed this case to play out in Louisiana, this would reward the Trump administration’s deliberate and secretive hopscotch attempt to unlawfully game the system. Legal counsel successfully argued that if the case did not stay in Massachusetts, a transfer to the District of Vermont would be appropriate.
Over 20 friends, colleagues, and professors, including the president of Tufts University, have sent letters of support to the court detailing Ms. Öztürk’s dedication to her work and her community and asking for her release.
Ms. Öztürk is represented by Mahsa Khanbabai, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Massachusetts, CLEAR, and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.
The following are quotes from Ms. Öztürk’s legal team:
Mahsa Khanbabai of Khanbabai Immigration Law:
“Today’s ruling brings us one step closer to restoring Rümeysa Öztürk’s rights, and sends a clear message that the government cannot manipulate jurisdiction in order to target human rights defenders, in violation of their First Amendment rights. Let’s be clear: Rümeysa should never have been arrested or detained by ICE in the first place. What matters most right now is our continued fight to ensure her immediate release and safe return home.”
Jessie Rossman, legal director at ACLU of Massachusetts:
“The Court rightfully, and with appropriate urgency, rejected the Trump administration’s attempted manipulation to move Rümeysa Öztürk’s case to Louisiana. The speed of this ruling speaks volumes, and this decision is a crucial next step. Ms. Öztürk is currently detained for co-authoring an op-ed in a campus newspaper, and that is an emergency that a court must address as quickly as possible. We are ready to defend Ms. Öztürk’s rights in Vermont to bring her back to her loved ones and life in Somerville.”
Sidra Mahfooz, staff attorney, ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project:
“With this ruling, the Court has rightfully reaffirmed that Rümeysa Öztürk's case belongs in Vermont — significantly closer to her community, her counsel, and her colleagues. While the trauma ICE has inflicted on her for writing an op-ed is irreparable, this is the first step towards bringing her home."
Mudassar Toppa, staff attorney at CLEAR, a legal nonprofit and clinic at CUNY School of Law:
“With today's order from the Court, Ms. Öztürk's battle for justice and redress for the government's flagrantly unconstitutional conduct will continue at a venue which is far more appropriate than the one the government sought. We will continue to tirelessly advocate for Ms. Öztürk to be expeditiously released from detention and for all her claims to be vindicated in Court.”
Vasudha Talla, Of Counsel at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP:
“The government doesn’t get to play keep-away with Ms. Öztürk's liberty and well-being. We look forward to defending her First Amendment rights in court.”
