A U.S. federal court has ordered the removal of a work ban placed on a Palestinian-supporting student and directed the Trump administration to restore her legal records. The student, Rumeysa Ozturk, is a PhD researcher at Tufts University in Boston. She has been active in pro-Palestinian advocacy on campus. In March this year, on the same day she was arrested during a protest, her name was allegedly removed from the federal database that tracks international students. This created major visa issues and prevented her from continuing her research work at the university. The action, carried out by the immigration enforcement arm of the Trump administration, left her education and future in uncertainty.
After months of legal struggle, Federal Judge Denise Casper delivered a strong ruling ordering the government to immediately restore Ozturk’s name to the student database and allow her to resume her work. Rumeysa welcomed the verdict, saying she was relieved and hoped no other student would face such unfair treatment. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the ruling. This case has drawn national attention as colleges across the U.S. continue to witness protests and debates over Palestinian rights, student activism, and immigration policies. Legal experts say the decision could influence similar cases and highlight the importance of protecting the rights of international students during politically sensitive times.
