Federal authorities have detained an international student from Tufts University near Boston and revoked their visa, the university confirmed in a statement on Tuesday night. The graduate student was apprehended from an off-campus apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. However, the university stated that it has no further details on the incident or the circumstances leading to the visa revocation.
Authorities Yet to Comment on the Detention
Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not issued any statements regarding the case. Additionally, legal representatives for the detained student have not provided any comments.
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NEW: I’ve obtained new footage of the abduction of Tufts student Runeysa Ozturk which includes audio of her kidnappers. pic.twitter.com/gucwFxdnOi
— Daniel Boguslaw (@DRBoguslaw) March 26, 2025
Trump Administration’s Crackdown on International Students
The incident is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies, particularly targeting international students. The government has intensified immigration enforcement, including increasing arrests and imposing stricter visa regulations.
Former President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have specifically vowed to deport foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian protests, alleging that some demonstrators support extremist groups. These measures have led to detentions and deportations at several universities, including Columbia University, Brown University, and Georgetown University.
Previous Cases of Student Detentions and Deportations
The Tufts University student’s detention follows similar cases across the country. At Columbia University, lawful permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil was arrested amid accusations of supporting Hamas, which he has denied. Additionally, federal authorities attempted to detain a Korean American Columbia student involved in protests, though a court has temporarily blocked the action.
Earlier this month, Brown University assistant professor and Lebanese national Dr. Rasha Alawieh was denied re-entry into the US and deported to Lebanon. The administration claimed her phone contained photos sympathetic to Hezbollah, an allegation she disputes.
With growing scrutiny on international students, universities and civil rights advocates continue to monitor the evolving immigration policies and their impact on academic institutions nationwide.
