Tufts University student arrest: Top Dems want answers from Noem, Rubio, ICE on 'deeply troubling' incident

Top Democrats are calling for the merchandise of Tufts University postgraduate pupil Rumeysa Ozturk, penning a missive to Trump medication officials demanding answers surrounding the "deeply troubling" incident. 

In a connection addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ICE Director Todd Lyons, the lawmakers said Ozturk’s apprehension this week successful Massachusetts "appears to beryllium 1 of the latest examples successful a drawstring of ICE arrests of assemblage students with valid greenish cards and visas due to the fact that of their governmental views." 

"These are profoundly troubling incidents. The Administration should not summarily detain and deport ineligible residents of this state simply for expressing their governmental views," wrote the Democrats, which see Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and members of The Squad. 

"Absent compelling grounds justifying her detention and the revocation of her status, we telephone for Ozturk’s merchandise and the restoration of her visa," they added. 

VIDEO SHOWS ARREST OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY STUDENT FOR ALLEGEDLY SUPPORTING HAMAS 

Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral pupil astatine Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents connected a thoroughfare successful Sommerville, Mass., connected Tuesday, March 25. (AP)

The Democrats past asked ICE to respond to galore questions by April 4, including: 

• "Why did DHS officials apprehension Ozturk?"
• "What is DHS/ICE’s argumentation regarding the usage of unmarked vehicles, look coverings, plain clothing, and the show of badges by DHS agents during arrests?"
• "Is DHS oregon immoderate different bureau compiling a dossier of assemblage students progressive successful Palestine-related protests?"

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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News connected Wednesday that Ozturk was "granted the privilege to beryllium successful this state connected a visa" and that "DHS and ICE investigations recovered Ozturk engaged successful activities successful enactment of Hamas, a overseas violent enactment that relishes the sidesplitting of Americans." 

"A visa is simply a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who termination Americans is grounds for visa issuance to beryllium terminated," the spokesperson said. "This is commonsense security." 

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROTESTER SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PREVENT DEPORTATION 

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News connected Wednesday that Ozturk was "granted the privilege to beryllium successful this state connected a visa" and that "DHS and ICE investigations recovered Ozturk engaged successful activities successful enactment of Hamas, a overseas violent enactment that relishes the sidesplitting of Americans."  (AP)

The ineligible squad representing Ozturk told Fox News she had a valid F-1 visa presumption anterior to her apprehension Tuesday successful Somerville, a metropolis conscionable northbound of Boston. 

The Democrats successful their missive called Ozturk’s apprehension and detention "disturbing." 

"The rationale for this apprehension appears to beryllium this student’s look of her governmental views. We are calling for afloat owed process successful this lawsuit and are seeking answers astir this lawsuit and astir ICE’s argumentation that has led to the recognition and apprehension of assemblage students with valid ineligible status," they said. 

Protesters stitchery during a objection opposing the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish nationalist and Tufts University postgraduate student.  (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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"Ozturk was 1 of 4 authors of an op-ed successful the Tufts pupil paper, endorsed by 32 different Tufts postgraduate students, which called for ‘the Tufts medication to meaningfully prosecute with and actualize’ Israel- and Palestine-related resolutions passed by the university’s Student Senate successful 2024," the lawmakers besides said. 

Fox News’ Audrey Conklin, Alexis McAdams and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.