A federal judge in Vermont is postponing a ruling on whether Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish graduate student arrested by federal agents, should be released from ICE custody. Öztürk was detained after criticizing her university’s response to divestment demands in an op-ed, and her attorneys argue that she was wrongly targeted for exercising her right to free speech. The government believes her case should be handled by the federal immigration system and has revoked her visa.
Öztürk’s attorneys are asking for her release, with support from Tufts University’s president, but the judge wants to hear more evidence before making a decision. The case was originally filed in Massachusetts but has been moved to Vermont, where the judge will determine if it should proceed. The government has argued that ICE did not have a facility in Massachusetts to hold Öztürk, leading to her detention in Louisiana.
While the government believes Öztürk should be removed from the country, the judge has ordered that she cannot be deported immediately. Her attorneys are urging for her release so she can return to campus, but the judge is waiting for more information to make a decision. A hearing is scheduled for April 14th to further discuss Öztürk’s case and determine her fate.
————————————————————————
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.
————————————————————————
