Immigration Judge Rejects Trump Effort to Deport Pro-Palestinian Tufts Student

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student, was arrested last year as part of the administration's targeting of pro-Palestinian campus activists.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An immigration judge has rejected the Trump administration's efforts to deport Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was arrested last year as part of the administration's targeting of pro-Palestinian campus activists. The judge concluded that the Department of Homeland Security had not met its burden of proving she was removable, terminating the proceedings against her.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over the Trump administration's efforts to target and deport international students and activists who are critical of U.S. policies, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The arrest of Ozturk, a child development researcher, was captured in a viral video and drew criticism from civil rights groups.

The details

Ozturk, a Turkish student, was arrested by immigration authorities in March 2025 in Massachusetts after the U.S. Department of State revoked her student visa. The sole basis authorities provided for revoking her visa was an editorial she co-authored in Tufts' student newspaper a year earlier criticizing her school's response to Israel's war in Gaza.

  • Ozturk was arrested by immigration authorities in March 2025.
  • An immigration judge ruled in her favor on January 29, 2026, concluding the Department of Homeland Security had not met its burden of proving she was removable.

The players

Rumeysa Ozturk

A Turkish PhD student at Tufts University who was arrested by immigration authorities in 2025 as part of the Trump administration's targeting of pro-Palestinian campus activists.

Mahsa Khanbabai

Ozturk's immigration lawyer.

Roopal Patel

The immigration judge who ruled in Ozturk's favor, concluding the Department of Homeland Security had not met its burden of proving she was removable.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The government agency that sought to deport Ozturk.

U.S. Department of State

The government agency that revoked Ozturk's student visa, citing an editorial she co-authored criticizing her school's response to Israel's war in Gaza.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system's flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the U.S. government.”

— Rumeysa Ozturk (Reuters)

What’s next

The immigration judge's decision is not itself public, and the administration could challenge it before the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns over the Trump administration's efforts to target and deport international students and activists who are critical of U.S. policies, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The arrest of Ozturk, a child development researcher, was captured in a viral video and drew criticism from civil rights groups, raising questions about the administration's motivations and the potential chilling effect on free speech and academic freedom.