Massachusetts elected officials call for release of detained Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk

On April 3, 2025, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne of Somerville, joined by fellow Massachusetts elected officials, is calling for the immediate release of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, currently being held in federal immigration detention.

Ms. Öztürk, an international student, appears to have been detained for expressing her views, views protected under the First Amendment for citizens and immigrants alike. In a joint statement initiated by Mayor Ballantyne, the signers underscore that freedom of speech and due process are foundational democratic principles that must be upheld without exception.

“…we call for the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk and the restoration of her student visa, not only so that she may return to her studies and contribute to our communities but so that we as a great country can honor our democratic systems, protect our liberty, and uphold the law,” says the statement.

Co-signers include all members of the Somerville State Delegation, all members of the Somerville City Council and Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn.

The full statement is as follows:

Massachusetts Elected Officials Joint Call for the Release of Tufts Student Rümeysa Öztürk

As elected representatives and regional leaders for the state, districts, and City in which international student Rümeysa Öztürk is lawfully carrying out her studies, we jointly call for her immediate release from federal immigration detention.

Ms. Öztürk appears to have been detained by federal agents for voicing her views—opinions that are constitutionally protected free speech for citizens and immigrants alike. Our Constitution does not require that we all agree with one another’s free speech, but the rule of law that it undergirds requires that we uphold freedom of expression for all—as well as due process. Ms. Öztürk thus appears to be a political detainee in a democracy that does not—and should not—allow for such oppression.

We must as a nation uphold our freedoms and civil liberties not just for some, but for all. The erosion of rights for one opens the door to the erosion of rights for all. Based on what we know and there being no criminal violations, we call for the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk and the restoration of her student visa, not only so that she may return to her studies and contribute to our communities but so that we as a great country can honor our democratic systems, protect our liberty, and uphold the law.

Katjana Ballantyne Mayor, City of Somerville	Patricia Jehlen Massachusetts State Senator
Breanna Lungo-Koehn Mayor, City of Medford	Christine P. Barber Massachusetts State Representative
Mike Connolly Massachusetts State Representative	Erika Uyterhoeven Massachusetts State Representative
Judy Pineda Neufeld City Council President and Ward Seven City Councilor, City of Somerville	Lance L. Davis City Council Vice President and Ward Six City Councilor, City of Somerville
Willie Burnley Jr. City Councilor At-Large, City of Somerville	Wilfred N. Mbah City Councilor At-Large, City of Somerville
Kristen Strezo City Councilor At-Large, City of Somerville	Jake Wilson City Councilor At-Large, City of Somerville
Matthew McLaughlin Ward One City Councilor, City of Somerville	Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott Ward Two City Councilor, City of Somerville
Ben Ewen-Campen Ward Three City Councilor, City of Somerville	Jesse Clingan Ward Four City Councilor, City of Somerville
Naima Sait Ward Five City Councilor, City of Somerville

1 Response » to “Massachusetts elected officials call for release of detained Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk”

Jamie Fitzgerald says:

April 3, 2025 at 7:24 pm

Thank you for fighting for her case. While I support the detainment of illegal, especially ones that are committed crimes after coming into the US, she is innocent as far as the public details of this case have been. As an independent, I don’t think any one party nor one person is infallible, but this wrong needs to be corrected.