A contentious court hearing unfolded Tuesday concerning detained Tufts University student Rumeysa Öztürk, who was arrested by immigration authorities in March. The Trump administration revoked her student visa, alleging her involvement in activities that posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy, specifically citing her co-authorship of an op-ed critical of Tufts’ response to the Gaza conflict. During the hearing at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Barrington Parker pressed a Justice Department attorney, Drew Ensign, on whether Öztürk’s speech was protected; however, Ensign stated he had no authority to address the matter.
Öztürk has been held in a Louisiana detention center, far from her home, while fighting deportation, enduring conditions that exacerbated her asthma and reported overcrowding and pest issues. Her legal team has sought to transfer her case to Vermont, where she was last held before Louisiana.
Concurrent with her case, the court also heard arguments regarding Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student detained while pursuing naturalization; he was released on bail. Mahdawi, a prominent organizer of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, faced similar allegations of posing foreign policy risks. His attorney argued that detaining him would infringe upon his free speech rights.
Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, who ordered Mahdawi’s release, drew parallels to historical government overreach, likening the current climate to the Second Red Scare. In a bold statement to the press after his release, Mahdawi expressed defiance against the Trump administration, asserting his resolve to speak out. The cases highlight ongoing tensions regarding immigration, free speech, and political dissent in the U.S.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
