Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was held in a Louisiana detention facility since her arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Massachusetts on March 25 in connection with an op-ed she wrote criticizing the school’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Her visa was revoked by President Donald Trump’s administration, who have yet to offer any evidence regarding their claim that she is a threat to their foreign policy.
“What the court said today was that she had satisfied her burden,” Jessie Rossman, the student’s lawyer, told journalists on Friday.
Ozturk is one of hundreds of students arrested in the US for their activism in connection with the Palestinian cause. Many Americans and students have been protesting outside courthouses, demanding their release. They welcomed the decision to release Ozturk.
“I am thrilled,” Wafic Faour, a protester, told Rudaw.
“Deep inside, we know that the government doesn’t have any reason to keep the students in jail,” he added, expressing his optimism the students will “win at the end.”
Ozturk’s legal case continues with a hearing on May 22 of her challenge to her detention.
Sinan Tuncdemir contributed to this article.
