Summary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, in Somerville, Massachusetts, without explanation.
A video shows masked agents handcuffing her. DHS claimed Ozturk’s visa was revoked due to alleged support for Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the U.S. Hundreds protested her detention, calling it intimidation.
A judge ordered DHS to explain the detention by Friday and barred moving her from Massachusetts, but she was listed as being held in Louisiana.
Turkish diplomats are seeking legal support.
The masks tell the whole story. People with legitimate authority do not need to wear masks. Everyone involved knew this was a criminal act and wanted to avoid being implicated.
We’re seeing a lot of masks on law enforcement and government agents these days. There’s a reason.