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 last March. Öztürk's attorneys said the court found the Department of Homeland Security did not prove she should be removed from the U.S. and terminated her removal proceedings.

Why it matters

Öztürk's case raised concerns about the treatment of foreign-born students and activists involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy under the Trump administration. Her detention and the government's attempt to deport her sparked questions about First Amendment and due process rights for immigrants.

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 said Öztürk raised serious concerns about her rights, and she has been out of a Louisiana immigrant detention center since May and back on the Tufts campus.

  • Öztürk was arrested in March 2026.
  • The immigration court ruled on January 29, 2026 that the Department of Homeland Security failed to prove Öztürk should be removed from the U.S.

The players

Rümeysa Öztürk

A Turkish Tufts University graduate student who was detained by immigration officials and faced deportation.

Department of Homeland Security

The government agency that attempted to deport Öztürk.

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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

Öztürk's case highlights the challenges faced by foreign-born students and activists under the Trump administration, and the importance of protecting the rights of immigrants, even in the face of government attempts to deport them.