ICE brokers grabbing a Tufts graduate pupil off a Somerville avenue and delivery her to a Louisiana detention middle is harking back to “1939 occupied Poland” when Jews have been being bundled off by the Nazis, an area congressman stated within the wake of the “disturbing” arrest.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD pupil and Fulbright Scholar from Turkey who’s right here on a pupil visa, was taken into custody Tuesday night by Division of Homeland Safety brokers on the sidewalk exterior her off-campus house within the sanctuary metropolis.
A viral video from the scene exhibits the 30-year-old lady — who has been public about her pro-Palestinian assist — being approached by masked federal brokers in hoodies after she left her dwelling. The brokers handcuff her, and take her away.
“This is reminiscent of, you know, 1939 occupied Poland when people got bundled off, you know,” Congressman Stephen Lynch stated in a video. “In those days, it was Jews being bundled off by the Nazis, but you know, this is not right. This is not right.
“This is not protecting us from criminal aliens or gang members,” he added. “This is just abducting innocent students who have come here to Boston for learning.”
Lynch additionally known as the arrest a “sickening reminder of the Gestapo-like conduct from another age.”
Ozturk — who’s working towards a PhD in Youngster Examine and Human Improvement — in a previous op-ed criticized the college’s administration after the Tufts Senate handed resolutions in regards to the “Palestinian genocide” and divesting from firms with ties to Israel.
The Division of Homeland Safety stated she was arrested due to her alleged “support of Hamas,” however didn’t present additional data.
“Rumeysa Ozturk is a Turkish national and Tufts University graduate student, granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa,” a senior DHS spokesperson stated in a press release.
“DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans,” the federal spokesperson added. “A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security.”
The Trump administration has been cracking down on pro-Palestinian college students, warning that they are going to be deported.
After the feds detained her, Ozturk in Boston federal court docket filed a “petition for a writ of habeas corpus” towards ICE and Homeland Safety.
The federal district choose, Indira Talwani, dominated that the feds couldn’t ship Ozturk out of Massachusetts for no less than 48 hours. However Ozturk had already been despatched to Louisiana, in keeping with the feds.
ICE’s web site exhibits that Ozturk was being held on the South Louisiana ICE Processing Middle.
“We recognize how frightening and distressing this situation is for her, her loved ones, and the larger community here at Tufts, especially our international students, staff, and faculty who may be feeling vulnerable or unsettled by these events,” Tufts’ officers wrote to the campus neighborhood.
“As noted by the Massachusetts Attorney General in her statement today, the footage of Rumeysa’s arrest is disturbing,” they added. “We stand with our Muslim students, especially during their observance of Ramadan, as we recognize that Rumeysa was on her way to an Iftar gathering with friends at the Interfaith Center when she was detained. We are in touch with local, state, and federal elected officials and hope that Rumeysa is provided the opportunity to avail herself of her due process rights.”
Ozturk has been the goal of the group Canary Mission — which “documents individuals and organizations that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses and beyond,” in keeping with its web site. Canary Mission posted her photograph and wrote up a bio for her on its web site.
The Boston Lecturers Union weighed in on the arrest.
“We are gravely concerned by the lack of communication and transparency around ICE activity in our community, and the disturbing fact that her arrest was motivated by engaging in peaceful protest and civil disobedience,” the union stated, including, “We call upon University, Massachusetts and Federal officials to do everything in their power to secure her release and restore democratic due process rights guaranteed under the Constitution.”
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