The rapid arrest of Turkish PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk by federal agents sparked protests that resulted in hundreds of protesters gathering outside of Somerville on March 26, 2025 during a rally for her release.
Tufts University student Ozturk was arrested federally when she was 30 years, taken outside her home on March 25 and by authorities. Rumeysa Ozturk is arrested by federal officers in video footage, who use handcuffs to detian her and take control of her cellular phone and wear mask coverings. Many people in the video footage say they are police officers but strange unmarked cars and concealed identities raise huge doubts.
Mahsa Khanbabai claimed that no official charges were filed against Ozturk by authorities. Unauthorised authorities arrested Ozturk a legal visa holder when she was to attend an iftar dinner. Federal agencies have to show Judge Indira Talwani reason to hold Ozturk by March 28 and obtain a new order before moving him to another place. 
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell Ozturk’s arrest was ‘horrific’, Pressley compared handling as a rights infringement against Ozturk.
The university officials of Tufts University claimed that they were not aware of this earlier. The database maintained by ICE indicated Ozturk to be detained in Louisiana causing the widespread outrage among student protesters and activists.
The crowd echoed the demand with their main chant “Free Rumeysa Ozturk now!”. Many fear broader implications for international students amid intensified immigration scrutiny. Support from the Turkish Embassy for legal challenge is accompanied by a petition by the United States government for fair procedures before the court.
A whole range of organizations are conducting intense legal and political analysis of this on-going situation.
