Rümeysa Öztürk case: When will Tufts student be released from ICE detention? Judge says…

A federal judge in Vermont, William K. Sessions III, on Friday ordered the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk

Updated on: May 9, 2025, 23:26:36 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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A federal judge in Vermont, William K. Sessions III, on Friday ordered the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student who was detained by ICE agents in March. The Turkish doctoral student was detained a year after she co-authored a campus newspaper op-ed that criticized her university's stance on the Gaza war.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts (via REUTERS)

Öztürk's detention sparked several protests across the country, with several students voicing concerns about free speech. This comes as the Trump administration has carried out several arrests of non-citizen students who participated in protests.

Rümeysa Öztürk has already spent six weeks in a Louisiana immigration detention center, but has not been charged with a crime yet. The Trump administration accuses her of participating in activities supporting Hamas.

When will Rümeysa Öztürk be released?

The district judge in Vermont ordered the immediate release of Öztürk. The order came after a bail hearing where Öztürk appeared remotely from a Louisiana detention center. Given the court’s directive for immediate release, and assuming no immediate appeals or logistical delays, her release from the Basile, Louisiana, facility should occur within days. However, the Trump administration’s response and potential legal challenges could affect this timeline.

Who is Rümeysa Öztürk?

Rümeysa Öztürk is a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University detained by ICE on March 25, 2025, and held in a Louisiana detention center. Her detention followed a 2024 campus op-ed criticizing Tufts’ stance on the Gaza war, sparking free speech debates. The Trump administration accused her of supporting Hamas, though no charges were filed. After six weeks in detention, U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered her immediate release on May 9, 2025, citing health concerns and constitutional rights.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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