The Biden administration has taken “free speech” to new lows as officials secretly whisk away a Turkish student for daring to speak out on Palestinian issues, conveniently forgetting the First Amendment while throwing due process out the window.
At a Glance
- Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was secretly detained by ICE near her Somerville apartment for her pro-Palestinian advocacy
- Officials transported her across multiple states to a Louisiana detention facility without informing even their own lawyers of her whereabouts
- The government tried to force her case into a more favorable conservative court jurisdiction through “forum shopping”
- DHS allegedly claimed Ozturk supported Hamas without providing evidence
- A federal judge blocked her deportation and rejected the government’s attempt to move her case to Louisiana
Another Foreign Student Silenced by Biden’s ICE
While illegal immigrants pour across our southern border by the millions with Biden’s blessing, ICE somehow found the time and resources to detain a Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University. Rumeysa Ozturk wasn’t smuggling drugs or committing violent crimes – her offense? Writing an op-ed critical of her university’s stance on Palestinian issues. That’s right, folks – expressing an opinion is now grounds for deportation under this administration that claims to champion “democracy” and the “right to protest.”
The details of Ozturk’s detention reveal a disturbing pattern of government overreach and procedural manipulation. After being seized near her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, she was moved across multiple states, eventually landing in a Louisiana detention facility. The transfer was executed with such secrecy that even the government’s own lawyers were kept in the dark about her location – a stunning admission of either incompetence or deliberate deception by federal authorities.
Biden’s “Forum Shopping” Scheme Exposed
In what can only be described as a blatant attempt to rig the legal system against Ozturk, government officials tried to move her case to Louisiana, where they likely expected a more favorable hearing. Her attorney, Adriana Lafaille, called out this cynical strategy, accusing them of “secretly whisking her away and making sure that no one would know where she was until she was in Louisiana.” When questioned about this suspicious transfer, a government lawyer lamely cited “bed space” as the reason.
“The irregularity of the arrest, detention and processing here is coupled with the failure to disclose Ozturk’s whereabouts even after the government was aware that she had counsel and the Petition was filed in this Court,” wrote Judge Denise Casper in her ruling.
Thankfully, at least one federal judge still respects the rule of law. Judge Casper rejected the government’s venue change request, ruling that the case should remain in Vermont where Ozturk was held when the petition was filed. The judge also maintained an order preventing her deportation, recognizing the suspicious circumstances surrounding this case from the beginning.
First Amendment? What First Amendment?
The Department of Homeland Security has allegedly claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ozturk supported Hamas. This convenient label allows them to invoke a provision of immigration law permitting deportation if a foreign national’s presence poses “adverse foreign policy consequences.” What happened to the burden of proof? What happened to due process? What happened to free speech? All apparently optional when it comes to silencing certain political viewpoints.
“Today’s ruling brings us one step closer to restoring Rumeysa Ozturk’s rights, and sends a clear message that the government cannot manipulate jurisdiction in order to target human rights defenders, in violation of their First Amendment rights,” said Ozturk’s attorney Mahsa Khanbabai.
This case isn’t happening in isolation. Ozturk is reportedly among several individuals with university ties who have faced visa revocations or entry denials after expressing support for Palestinians. While the Biden administration claims to champion diversity of thought and free expression, their actions speak louder than words. Apparently, some speech is more protected than others, depending on which way the political winds are blowing in Washington.
The Bigger Picture
The truly frightening aspect of this case is what it reveals about our government’s willingness to use immigration enforcement as a tool to silence political speech. If they can detain and attempt to deport a doctoral student for writing an op-ed, what’s stopping them from using the same tactics against legal immigrants who express other views that fall out of favor with the administration? The selective enforcement of immigration law based on political speech is the hallmark of authoritarian regimes, not constitutional republics.
“Let’s be clear: Rumeysa should never have been arrested or detained by ICE in the first place. What matters most right now is our continued fight to ensure her immediate release and safe return home,” concludes Ozturk’s attorney.
While we can debate the merits of Ozturk’s political positions, her right to express them without fear of government retaliation should be non-negotiable in America. The Biden administration needs to explain why they’re using ICE to target foreign students engaged in protected speech while simultaneously rolling out the red carpet for millions crossing our border illegally. Until then, this case stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of our constitutional rights when government power goes unchecked.
