Immigration Court Blocks Deportation of Tufts Graduate Student from Turkey

Rümeysa Öztürk's attorneys say the court found the Department of Homeland Security failed to prove she should be removed from the U.S.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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An immigration court has blocked the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish Tufts University graduate student who was detained by immigration officials near her Massachusetts home. Öztürk's attorneys said the court found on January 29 that the Department of Homeland Security failed to prove she should be removed from the U.S., and terminated her removal proceedings.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions around the treatment of foreign-born students and activists involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy under the previous administration's policies. The court's decision to block Öztürk's deportation is seen as a victory for protecting the First Amendment and due process rights of international students.

The details

Öztürk, a PhD student studying children's relationship to social media, was arrested last March while walking down a street. Video showed masked agents handcuffing her and putting her into an unmarked vehicle. A federal judge had previously raised concerns about Öztürk's First Amendment and due process rights, as well as her health, when ordering her release from a Louisiana immigrant detention center in May.

  • Öztürk was arrested in March 2026.
  • The immigration court made its decision on January 29, 2026.
  • Öztürk has been out of detention since May 2026 and back on the Tufts campus.

The players

Rümeysa Öztürk

A Turkish Tufts University graduate student who was detained by immigration officials and faced deportation, but has now had her removal proceedings terminated by an immigration court.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that attempted to deport Öztürk, but failed to prove she should be removed from the U.S. according to the immigration court's ruling.

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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.”

— Rümeysa Öztürk (Statement released by her attorneys)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has the option to appeal the immigration court's decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of international students and activists under restrictive immigration policies, and the importance of the courts in protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, even when the government seeks to deport them.