WP: State department finds no evidence of terrorist links in Tufts student case

An internal memo from the State Department, circulated just days before Rümeysa Öztürk was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), casts doubt on the Trump administration's claims that the Tufts University student supports Hamas.

The memo, dated March, states that the administration failed to provide evidence linking Öztürk to antisemitic activities or terrorist organisations, contrary to government assertions, Caliber.Az reports per The Washington Post.

The document, which was described to The Washington Post, indicates that Secretary of State Marco Rubio lacked sufficient grounds to revoke Öztürk’s visa under the authority granted to the U.S. Secretary of State to safeguard national interests.

Despite claims by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that Öztürk was involved in activities "in support of Hamas," a U.S.-designated terrorist group, neither the DHS nor federal prosecutors provided substantiating evidence for these accusations.

Öztürk, a 30-year-old doctoral student from Türkiye, was detained on March 25 as part of a wider crackdown on international students by the Trump administration, which has involved numerous visa revocations. Öztürk’s potential deportation stems from her involvement in co-authoring an op-ed in The Tufts Daily last year, in which she criticised the university’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The State Department's memo, which was reviewed by The Washington Post, found no evidence that Öztürk’s activities included antisemitic content or support for terrorism. A review of government databases yielded no links to terrorism. As a result, the department suggested her visa could be revoked under a different, discretionary authority within the Immigration and Nationality Act, which does not require evidence or explanation.

DHS had originally recommended the visa revocation, citing Öztürk's anti-Israel activism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. The department's recommendation was based on her involvement in a student-led protest demanding that Tufts disclose its investments and sever ties with companies connected to Israel.

Legal experts pointed out that while the original authority for visa revocation requires concrete evidence, the discretionary authority used in Öztürk’s case does not necessitate justification. Immigration attorney Soulmaz Taghavi noted that under the latter, "there isn’t any requirement to justify or rationalize what exactly the removal is based on."

The State Department declined to comment on ongoing litigation, while DHS did not respond to a request for comment. In response to the memo, Rubio maintained that Öztürk’s actions went beyond writing op-eds, suggesting her involvement in activities such as university protests, though there is no evidence she led such protests.

Öztürk’s arrest has sparked international outcry, with critics arguing that it represents an attack on free speech. A statement from the Tufts Friends of Israel organisation condemned the administration’s actions, asserting that "restricting freedom of speech is flat-out undemocratic and un-American." The group expressed opposition to the content of the op-ed but upheld the importance of free expression in democratic societies.

In a recent declaration, Öztürk recounted the moment she was apprehended by plainclothes agents, stating that she initially feared for her life, unsure whether the men surrounding her were police. She described the situation as "strange" and was alarmed when she was handcuffed and shackled.

When asked about the situation, Rubio referred to an op-ed published by him in Fox News, where he reaffirmed his stance on visa revocations, declaring that visiting America is "a privilege" for those who respect U.S. laws and values.

A hearing on Öztürk’s case is set for April 14 in federal court in Vermont.

By Aghakazim Guliyev