Immigration Court Dismisses Case Against Tufts Student Over Anti-Israel Speech

Rumeysa Ozturk avoids deportation after Trump administration targeted her for op-ed criticizing Israel

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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An immigration court has dismissed a case against Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, ruling that the Department of Homeland Security could not prove she needed to be removed from the country. Ozturk made national news when she was arrested near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, after the Trump administration revoked her student visa due to an anti-Israel op-ed she had co-written a year earlier.

Why it matters

The Trump administration made no secret of its intent to deport Ozturk because of her anti-Israel speech, raising concerns about the government punishing protected free speech. The courts have generally ruled against the administration's efforts to deport foreign students for their political activism.

The details

Ozturk spent a month being shuttled between detention facilities before a judge in Vermont ordered her release in early May. The initial State Department memo justifying the revocation of Ozturk's student visa said she was "involved in associations that 'may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization,' including [co-authoring] an op-ed that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus."

  • Ozturk was arrested near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts in 2025.
  • Ozturk spent a month in detention facilities before being released in early May 2025.
  • The immigration court dismissed the case against Ozturk in February 2026.

The players

Rumeysa Ozturk

A Tufts University graduate student who was targeted by the Trump administration for deportation over an anti-Israel op-ed she co-wrote.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that sought to deport Ozturk over her political speech.

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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 (The Wall Street Journal)

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump administration's efforts to punish foreign students for their political speech, which was largely rejected by the courts. It underscores the importance of protecting free expression, even for non-citizens, and the risks of the government targeting individuals for their views.