A coalition of progressive Jewish organizations and congregations is advocating for Rumeysa Ozturk, a Muslim graduate student at Tufts University, who faces deportation after co-authoring an essay critical of Israel. This coalition includes synagogues from various locations, such as West Newton, Massachusetts, San Francisco, and New York City, along with J-Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group.
On Thursday, the coalition filed a brief in federal court in Burlington, Vermont, challenging the government's actions against Ms. Ozturk, stating that she should be released from an immigration detention center in Louisiana where she has been held for over two weeks. The brief describes her arrest by masked immigration agents as reminiscent of oppressive tactics used by authoritarian regimes from which many Jewish ancestors fled.
According to the Association of International Educators, nearly 1,000 international students and scholars in the U.S. have lost their legal status since mid-March. Reports indicate that visa revocations often occur with little warning and without explanation. Some students have faced revocations due to legal infractions, while others have not. Students who do not leave voluntarily risk deportation.
The Trump administration has justified its actions by claiming that visas are being revoked for students who violate laws, engage in antisemitic behavior, threaten U.S. foreign policy, or have terrorist sympathies. While some Jewish activists support this initiative, mainstream Jewish groups have raised concerns about the vague criteria leading to the targeting of students.
Ms. Ozturk’s detention occurred shortly after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate advocating for pro-Palestinian protests, whom an immigration judge has ruled could be deported, although he is contesting the case in court. In response, nearly 3,000 faculty, staff members, and students from universities across the U.S. signed an open letter from the Boston chapter of Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff, condemning the use of antisemitism claims to justify harassment or deportation.
Sara Coodin from the American Jewish Committee noted that while some federal interventions on antisemitism have been beneficial, Ms. Ozturk's case reflects a disregard for the rights of individuals in the U.S. to freely express their thoughts. The only evidence against her is the opinion piece she co-wrote.
Elaine Landes, a member of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, expressed that the situation exemplifies a misuse of the fight against antisemitism, arguing for the need to protect the rights of all individuals. Rabbi Ryan Bauer from Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco also voiced his support for Ms. Ozturk, despite disagreeing with her views, emphasizing the importance of free speech.
A federal judge in Vermont is set to review Ms. Ozturk's habeas corpus petition for her release from detention on Monday.