Immigration Court Blocks Trump from Deporting Pro-Palestine Tufts Student

Rümeysa Öztürk's deportation case was terminated after the government failed to provide credible evidence of her involvement in antisemitic activity.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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An immigration judge has dropped the deportation case against Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student who was arrested by federal agents nearly a year ago. The Trump administration had cited Öztürk's criticism of the university's administration in a student newspaper op-ed as grounds for removing her from the US and revoking her student visa. However, the Department of Homeland Security failed to prove that Öztürk had to be deported, and the immigration court terminated the removal proceedings.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to deport students like Öztürk who are critical of the government's policies, particularly towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The administration's use of unverified social media accounts and blacklists like Canary Mission as evidence raises questions about the legitimacy of its actions and the potential chilling effect on free speech and student activism.

The details

In March 2024, Öztürk was one of four authors of an op-ed in Tufts' student newspaper that criticized the university's administration for failing to act on three student-led resolutions, including one calling for the acknowledgement of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and divesting from Israel. The Trump administration cited the op-ed as grounds for removing Öztürk from the US and revoking her student visa. However, the Department of Homeland Security failed to provide credible evidence to the immigration court to justify Öztürk's deportation, leading to the termination of the removal proceedings.

  • In March 2024, Öztürk co-authored an op-ed criticizing Tufts University's administration.
  • In 2025, Öztürk was arrested by masked and plainclothes federal agents.
  • On Monday, the immigration court terminated the removal proceedings against Öztürk.

The players

Rümeysa Öztürk

A Tufts University doctoral student who was arrested by federal agents and faced deportation for her criticism of the university's administration in a student newspaper op-ed.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The government agency that sought to deport Öztürk, citing her op-ed as grounds for removing her from the US and revoking her student visa.

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What’s next

The lawyers for Öztürk said the government's legal case against her is a dangerous interpretation of immigration law, and that it could lead to the detention of any noncitizen in retaliation for their speech. The implications of this case and the broader Trump administration's targeting of pro-Palestine student activists will likely continue to be debated and challenged in the courts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump administration's efforts to silence dissent and criticism, particularly from immigrant students, through the use of dubious evidence and overly broad interpretations of immigration law. It underscores the importance of protecting free speech and academic freedom, even for those with unpopular political views.