Tufts University expressed strong support on Wednesday for its student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national who was detained last week by federal agents as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism on US campuses. In an official statement, Tufts University President Sunil Kumar demanded that the 30-year-old doctoral candidate be released immediately so she can return to her studies and complete her degree.
Ozturk’s arrest, which was captured on video showing masked agents detaining her on a sidewalk, has sparked outrage online and raised concerns about freedom of speech and due process under the Trump administration. Tufts University has joined the chorus of voices protesting her detention, asserting that it has no evidence to support the claims that Ozturk’s actions on campus warranted her arrest.
Describing her as a “valued member of the community,” the university emphasized her dedication to her academic work and her contributions to the campus. The statement also noted that she had received significant support from both students and staff since her arrest.
Ozturk had recently co-authored an article in Tufts’ student newspaper in March 2024, criticising the university’s handling of student protests related to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. She is now contesting her detention in federal court.
The detention of Ozturk is part of a broader trend in which the Trump administration has targeted several prestigious US universities, accusing them of fostering anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian activism. The administration has scrutinized institutions such as Columbia University, where it initially reviewed $400 million in funding, and Harvard University, where it is now reviewing $9 billion in funding.
Critics of the government’s actions argue that these measures represent retribution and will suppress free speech on campuses. Supporters, however, maintain that such steps are necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of Jewish students.
