State Department Clears Tufts Student After Antisemitism Probe

State Department finds no evidence of antisemitism or Hamas support in their investigation of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who remains detained by immigration authorities after being arrested near her home for allegedly violating her visa terms.

Quick Takes

State Department memo revealed no evidence linking Ozturk to Hamas or antisemitism, contradicting the basis for her detention
Ozturk was arrested by masked ICE agents after co-authoring an op-ed critical of Tufts University’s handling of Palestinian issues
More than two dozen progressive Jewish organizations have filed a brief supporting Ozturk’s release from detention
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced her visa revocation, citing anti-Israel activism
A Boston judge has ruled Ozturk cannot be deported until jurisdiction over her arrest is determined

State Department Contradicts Antisemitism Claims

An internal State Department memo has contradicted accusations that Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk supported Hamas or promoted antisemitism. The Turkish student was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and had her visa revoked after co-authoring an essay critical of Israel. Despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s public statements justifying her detention, the department’s own investigation found no substantiating evidence for these serious allegations that led to her arrest and ongoing detention in a Louisiana immigration facility.

Surveillance video captured Ozturk’s arrest by masked immigration agents near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, an incident that has sparked outrage and protests. The detention occurred without prior notice, following a pattern identified by the Association of International Educators, which reports nearly 1,000 international students and scholars have lost their legal status since mid-March. These visa revocations frequently happen without explanation of alleged infractions, leaving students with limited legal recourse.

The government knew there was no evidence connecting Rumeysa Ozturk to Hamas or anti-Semitic activity. All they had was the fact she co-wrote an op-ed criticizing Israel. That’s it https://t.co/pkUz7JhAp3 pic.twitter.com/ROktWbPS0J

— Brian Tashman (@briantashman) April 14, 2025

Jewish Organizations Rally in Support

In a significant development, more than two dozen progressive Jewish organizations and congregations have filed a brief in federal court opposing the government’s actions against Ozturk. The coalition includes synagogues from West Newton, Massachusetts, San Francisco, New York’s Upper West Side, and pro-Israel advocacy group J-Street. Their brief argues for Ozturk’s immediate release and draws parallels between her arrest and oppressive tactics used by authoritarian regimes, noting the historical significance of such actions for Jewish communities.

In the brief, the coalition reminds readers that “Jewish people came to America to escape generations of similar predations.”

The brief specifically challenges the government’s claim that detaining Ozturk serves to combat antisemitism, arguing instead that her detention represents a violation of constitutional and First Amendment rights. This position directly contradicts Secretary Rubio’s justification for the visa revocation, who stated that students who “participate in that sort of activity” would face consequences. The growing support for Ozturk highlights the controversial nature of using immigration enforcement in response to political expression.

Here is the answer: The State Department has no evidence linking Rumeysa Ozturk to antisemitism or terrorism, Washington Post reports, citing a March memo ahead of her immigration hearing in Vermont on Monday.

However, the department is pursuing her deportation under the Cold… https://t.co/7J6IDG4Gc9 pic.twitter.com/bEU2Wct19C

— Rabia İclal Turan (@iclalturan) April 14, 2025

Legal Proceedings and Detention Conditions

Ozturk’s case has moved through multiple courts, with a Boston judge ruling she cannot be deported until jurisdiction over her arrest is determined. A hearing is scheduled in Vermont federal court to address her attorneys’ arguments that her detention violates constitutional protections. Meanwhile, Ozturk has described poor conditions in the Louisiana immigration detention center where she has been held for over two weeks. Her legal team maintains that the government’s actions constitute punishment for protected speech rather than legitimate immigration enforcement.

Ozturk made a statement saying, “‘I felt very scared and concerned as the men surrounded me and grabbed my phone from me,’

The State Department has declined to comment on the leaked memo or ongoing litigation, maintaining official silence despite the document contradicting public statements made by department leadership. Secretary Rubio had previously defended the enforcement action, saying, “If you lie to us and get a visa and then enter the United States, and with that visa participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa.”

The discrepancy between the department’s internal findings and its public position raises questions about the procedures used to revoke visas for international students engaged in political expression.