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Tufts student taken into custody
Dear members of the Tufts community,
We have received reports that an international graduate student was taken into custody this evening by federal authorities outside an off-campus apartment building in Somerville. The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University.
From what we have been told subsequently, the student’s visa has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true. The university has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student’s apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident. Following university protocol, the Office of University Counsel will assist in connecting the student to external legal resources should the individual request our assistance.
We realize that tonight’s news will be distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community. We will continue to provide information, support, and resources in the days ahead as more details become available to us. While we await further information, we want to remind the members of our community that the university has an established protocol for responding to government agents who arrive on campus (or off-campus), for an unannounced site visit. To activate that protocol, it is best to call the Tufts University Police Department at 617-627-3030 and inform the dispatcher, who will notify the appropriate university officials.
Available support resources
If you are feeling in need of support, we encourage you to connect and spend time with your friends, your classmates, and your loved ones, whether at or outside of Tufts.
On campus, there are multiple points of support for students that can respond to individual and group needs. Here’s how to get started:
The International Center is available to provide additional student support and resources for their community, as well as to direct questions or concerns to partners on campus.
If you’re not sure what resources or supports are available, please connect with the corresponding resources available for your school as listed here.
For all members of the Tufts community, the University Chaplaincy can provide additional support regardless of denomination or belief.
Staff and faculty can access the Tufts Employee Assistance Program for support at any time.
Best regards,
Sunil Kumar
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This response sounds incredibly detached. “We realize that tonight’s news will be distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community”…is it not distressing to you as administrators?! Why don’t you have your students’ backs in supporting their free speech to oppose a genocide?!