Tufts University student returns to Turkey after completing PhD
Rümeysa Öztürk has completed her Ph.D. program at Tufts University and has returned to Turkey. She faced immigration challenges related to her political views. (sources: theguardian, thehill, foxnews, politico, nytimes)
Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has returned to Turkey after completing her Ph.D. program. Her legal battles were linked to a pro-Palestinian op-ed she co-authored.
- Öztürk was detained by ICE last year amid deportation proceedings.
- An immigration judge terminated her deportation case.
- She has now self-deported to Turkey to begin her career.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of immigration enforcement and political expression in academic settings.
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3 bills on this issue are moving right now — and the most active one is Land of the Free Act of 2025.
HR4959 · 119th Congress
Land of the Free Act of 2025
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What HR4959 actually does
This story is about Tufts University student returns to Turkey after completing PhD. This bill would repeal INA § 237.
If passed, it would:
- Repeal INA § 237(a)(4)(C) (the “foreign policy consequences” deportability ground • Reduce the government’s ability to base removability on that provision where the underlying conduct is protected.
2 other bills moving on this issue
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This story is about Tufts University student returns to Turkey after completing PhD. This bill would require institutions to report certain F-1/J-1 student conduct to SEVIS.
If passed, it would
- Require institutions to report certain F-1/J-1 student conduct to SEVIS • Direct State to revoke the visa and DHS to initiate removal proceedings if the conduct is established.
This story is about Tufts University student returns to Turkey after completing PhD. This bill would mandate revocation/denial of certain student visas based on defined antisemitic conduct plus a foreign-policy determination.
If passed, it would
- Mandate revocation/denial of certain student visas based on defined antisemitic conduct plus a foreign-policy • Potentially expand the number of student-visa cases routed into removal proceedings on speech-adjacent factual.
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