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Tufts Scholar Wins PhD After Arrest, Challenges Deportation

2/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University scholar in Child Study and Human Development, earned her PhD nearly a year after her arrest by federal agents.
An immigration court judge terminated her deportation proceedings, citing lack of evidence against her.
Ozturk continues to challenge the constitutionality of her arrest, which followed criticism of university leaders over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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Story summary

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University scholar in Child Study and Human Development, earned her PhD nearly a year after her arrest by federal agents.
An immigration court judge terminated her deportation proceedings, citing lack of evidence against her.
Ozturk continues to challenge the constitutionality of her arrest, which followed criticism of university leaders over the Israel-Gaza conflict.