Press Releases

Rümeysa Öztürk’s Legal Team to Urge Appeals Court to Not Delay Student’s Transfer to Vermont

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on May 6th on whether a federal judge's order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk to VT should be granted or further delayed. Additionally, the court will consider the government's motion to consolidate the cases of Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi.

Federal Court Orders Columbia Student Mohsen Mahdawi Released on Bail

In a positive outcome, Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi from prison on bail today, pending the resolution of his habeas petition. The government’s request for a seven-day pause to Mohsen’s release was denied by the judge. Mohsen's immigration hearing is set for May 1.

Appeals Court to Consider Stay of Rümeysa Öztürk’s Transfer to Vermont

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay on Judge Sessions' order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk to Vermont while it considers the government's emergency stay request and her legal team's opposition. The government must reply by May 1, and arguments are set for May 6.

Appeals Court Must Reject Government’s Cruel Attempt to Keep Rümeysa Öztürk in Louisiana

Öztürk's legal team is challenging the Trump administration's emergency request to pause a federal judge's order requiring her transfer from an ICE detention center in Louisiana to Vermont by May 1. If granted, it could extend Öztürk's time by several months, where she reports inhumane conditions.

Mohsen Mahdawi Challenges His Unlawful Detention by ICE 

VT resident and Columbia Univ. student, Mohsen Mahdawi, was arrested at his naturalization interview in retaliation for his Palestinian advocacy. In federal court, arguments focused on the court's jurisdiction over his habeas petition. A hearing on the merits and bail is scheduled for April 30th.

Court Rules Rümeysa Öztürk’s Lawsuit Should Move Forward in Vermont and Orders ICE to Transfer Her Back to New England

Marking a hopeful development for Rümeysa Öztürk, a federal court in VT has ruled that her lawsuit challenging her ICE detention will proceed there and has ordered her return to the state by May 1. The court's action offers a positive step as Ms. Öztürk and her legal team contest her detention.

Rümeysa Öztürk Denied Bond, Remains Unlawfully Detained in Louisiana

Legal team urges federal court to promptly bring Rümeysa Öztürk back to New England, as an immigration court yesterday denied bond to the former Fulbright scholar and current Tufts Ph.D. student, drawing increased attention to the pending district court decision regarding her release.

Attorneys for Rümeysa Öztürk argue for her release from ICE detention in Vermont District Court filings 

Attorneys for Tufts University Ph.D. student Rümeysa Öztürk, who was wrongfully detained by ICE in retaliation for an op-ed that she co-wrote, will argue for the VT district court judge to order her immediate release from an ICE detention center to be reunited with her community in Somerville, MA.

Hearing in Rümeysa Öztürk’s case scheduled for Monday, April 14, in Vermont District Court

A hearing is scheduled in VT District Court for the case of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts Ph.D. student and Fulbright scholar who was wrongfully detained by ICE in retaliation for an op-ed that she co-wrote. VT district court Judge William Sessions will hear oral arguments from her attorneys on April 14.