Burlington, May 10 (RHC)-- Federal District Judge William Sessions, based in the U.S. state of Vermont, has ruled that Turkish citizen Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, "cannot continue" to be detained. He assured that the court believes she does not pose a danger to the community, nor is there a flight risk.
"The court orders the government to immediately release Ms. Ozturk," Sessions stated regarding the case of the young woman detained in late March in Massachusetts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as part of the Trump administration's crusade against academics and students who support the Palestinian cause.
“There is no evidence that she committed acts of violence or incited violence,” the judge stated, adding that Ozturk had presented “very substantial” allegations of violations of the First Amendment and due process, referring to the detainee’s testimony in court.
At the end of March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration had canceled more than 300 visas for students linked to pro-Palestinian protests. He added that his administration “would not issue visas” to those participating in pro-Palestinian “movements,” in response to a press question directly related to the Rumeysa Ozturk case.
In his ruling this Friday, Federal Judge Sessions also noted that Ozturk’s arrest “cripples the freedom of expression of millions of people” who are not citizens in the United States.
(Source: HISPANTV)
