Tufts supported Turkish student Rumusa Ozturk after arrest in alleged Hamas relations

Tufts university Has called for immediate release Rumusa ozaturkAn international graduate student who was detained by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week. Ojturk was arrested on 25 March by masked federal agents outside his off-kampus apartment in Somarville, Massachusetts, while Ramadan Iftar dinner.
In court documents, Tufts University President Sunil Kumar urged the officials to urge the Turkish doctoral student to be released without delay, stressing that he should be allowed to complete and complete his studies.
Visa canceled at the alleged link of Hamas
According to court records, the US State Department canceled Ojturk’s student visa on March 21, cited alleged involvement in Hamas -supporting activities. However, the Tufts University stated that at the time of his arrest, the Ojturk was in the “Good Immigration Standing”.
Kumar said that the university police was informed by Somarville officials on the evening of 25 March that a student of Tufts was detained by federal agents. It was later confirmed through record that the person was Ojturk.
An hour after his arrest, the student’s record in the student and the exchange visitor Information System (Sevis) was updated to show that his visa was abolished. Kumar said that until that moment, the immigration status of Ojturk was obedient. The next morning, on 26 March, the university received an official notice via email, in which it was declared “non-migrant status violations”.
A DHS spokesperson later claimed that an investigation found that Ojturk was engaged in the activities supporting Hamas, but no evidence was given to confirm the allegations.
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University challenges allegations
The third year doctoral students Ojturk were one of the authors of an opinion of March 2024, who called the Tufts University to accept what the writers described as the Palestinian massacre. Kumar said that the publication has not violated the policies of any university and no complaint was filed against Ojturk about the article.
CBS News quoted Kumar as saying, “The university has no idea to support the allegations that were engaged in activities in the Tufts, who are in his arrest and custody.”
The court documents further revealed that after his arrest, Ojturk was shifted to an ice detention center in Central Louisiana due to lack of space in Boston-sector facilities.
Kumar also expressed concern over the widespread impact of Ojturk’s custody, saying that the university has received reports from students, faculty and employees, who now feel insecure that they leave their homes to participate in classrooms in the campus.